ROCHESTER, Mich. – The future of autonomous systems and cutting-edge robotics was on full display last weekend, as university student teams from all over the world joined scientists and engineers from the U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center at Oakland University for the 33rd annual Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC). For more than three decades, this international contest has challenged students to design, build, and test autonomous vehicles, pitting their custom robotics against real-world constraints and rigorous performance standards.The competition serves as an important venue for exposing future engineers to the challenges and opportunities associated with autonomous ground systems. The technologies demonstrated at IGVC align closely with the Army’s growing focus on autonomy, as autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles extend reach, reduce Soldier risk and accelerate operational tempo. The competition also highlights advances in robotics that support both the Army’s adoption of autonomy and the integration of innovative industry solutions into the Army’s autonomy environment. Each year, this unique competition brings together academia, government and metro Detroit’s automotive industry. This year’s event featured 33 teams from six different countries. Bernard Theisen, GVSC Ground Vehicle Robotics chief technology officer, has been a central figure at IGVC for more than 25 years. After many years as a judge and now serving as a co-chair, he said GVSC plays a major role in developing the constraints of the competition. “We help inform the rules based on what the military needs are and help shape the challenges,” Theisen said. The competition spanned four days, during which teams presented and tested their vehicles in a series of events that included a highly technical Design Challenge, an Autonomous Navigation (AutoNav) course, and Self-Drive performance challenges. Prizes were awarded for the top teams in each category, as well as best performance by a rookie team, and best overall