How We Approach Rover Design in NASA HERC
How We Approach Rover Design in NASA HERC
Good design starts with asking better questions.
When people hear the word “design,” they often imagine a finished model or a final drawing. In NASA HERC, design is something very different. It is a mindset, not a conclusion.
For Team Mushak, rover design is not about finding the perfect answer immediately. It is about understanding the problem deeply enough to make informed choices, knowing that those choices will evolve.
Design Begins Before Sketches
Our design process does not begin with CAD or components. It begins with context.
Before anything is drawn, we spend time understanding the challenge environment, constraints, and expectations. This includes the nature of the terrain, the tasks to be performed, and the rules that shape what is allowed.
This stage is about asking questions rather than proposing solutions. What does the rover need to handle? Where might uncertainty appear? Which constraints will influence multiple systems at once?
Clarity at this stage prevents confusion later.
Designing for the Problem, Not the Idea
One of the most important lessons we carry into NASA HERC is to avoid falling in love with ideas too early.
An idea that sounds innovative is not always the right fit for the problem. We try to evaluate concepts based on relevance rather than excitement.
Each design decision is framed by purpose. If a feature does not clearly support mission goals or operational reliability, it is reconsidered. This approach keeps the design grounded and intentional.
Thinking in Systems, Not Parts
Rover design is not a collection of independent choices.
Mechanical structure, electronics, control logic, and operation are all interconnected. A small change in one area often affects another in ways that are not immediately obvious.
Our design thinking focuses on interactions. We consider how systems influence one another rather than optimising them in isolation. This systems-level thinking helps avoid conflicts during integration.
NASA HERC encourages teams to think like system engineers, not just component designers.
Allowing Space for Change
Another key part of our approach is accepting that designs will change.
Instead of resisting iteration, we design with adaptability in mind. This means avoiding overly rigid configurations and allowing room for refinement as testing progresses.
Designing for change reduces frustration. It shifts the mindset from defending a design to improving it.
NASA HERC rewards teams that adapt thoughtfully rather than those that remain attached to early assumptions.
Using Constraints as Design Guides
Constraints are not obstacles in our design process. They are guides.
Rather than asking what we want the rover to do, we often ask what it must do within these boundaries. That shift sharpens design thinking and leads to more realistic solutions.
Design Decisions Are Collective
Design is not driven by a single perspective.
Within Team Mushak, discussions play a major role in shaping design direction. Different viewpoints often reveal risks or opportunities that a single person might miss.
Design reviews are treated as conversations rather than approvals. Questioning assumptions is encouraged. Agreement comes after understanding, not before.
This collaborative approach strengthens both the design and the team.
Design Is Always Linked to Testing
No design decision stands alone. Each one is expected to be tested.
Design thinking remains incomplete until ideas meet reality. Testing closes the loop between intention and outcome. Feedback from testing informs future design choices.
For us, design and testing are not separate phases. They are parts of the same cycle.
What This Approach Teaches Us
Approaching rover design this way has reshaped how we think about engineering. It reminds us that good engineering is rarely about brilliance in a single moment.
It is about consistency. It is about being willing to question your own work. It is about learning faster than your assumptions.
NASA HERC provides an environment where this way of thinking is constantly reinforced.
Looking Ahead
As Team Mushak prepares for NASA HERC 2026, this design approach continues to guide our decisions. We aim to stay curious, flexible, and intentional.
We do not design to impress on paper. We design to understand the problem better each time.
Rover design is not about having the right answer on day one. It is about building the ability to arrive at better answers over time.
This is Team Mushak.
Learning through challenges.
Building through iteration.
And preparing, one step at a time, for NASA HERC 2026
TO SEE OUR JOURNEY YOU GUYS CAN STAY TUNED WITH US ON
1. YouTube: https://youtube.com/@teammushak?si=pyRJ3G6mEWIp_YXz
2. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teammushak?igsh=cDBmYmZxdGoyZGwz
3. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/team-mushak
4. Twitter https://x.com/mushak_herc
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