Who we are
From a student initiative to a full IEEE chapter.
The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Student Branch Chapter at the University of South Florida builds competition robots, runs research collaborations, and brings robotics to the next generation of engineers.
Where we came from
Our history
The MARS years
A small student initiative
The IEEE RAS Student Branch Chapter at USF traces its roots to the Mechatronics and Autonomous Robotics Society (MARS). What began as a small student initiative grew into a larger organization through ambitious projects and competitions.
The Lunabotics rover
Building for NASA
Most notably, that growth was driven by the development of a lunar rover for NASA's Lunabotics Challenge, the project that put MARS on the map and pushed the organization far past its original scope.
Becoming IEEE RAS
A stronger foundation
As the organization expanded, MARS evolved beyond its original scope, leading to its conversion into an IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Student Branch Chapter. The transition preserved MARS's hands-on, project-driven culture while providing a stronger professional and academic foundation through IEEE RAS, creating a platform for students to collaborate on advanced robotics projects, connect with industry and academia, and grow the robotics community at USF.
Early rover design work, sketched out on the whiteboard.
Research and outreach
Outreach and education
On-campus research
The chapter runs an active research collaboration with Dr. Castellanos, an NVIDIA Ambassador, teaching members industry-standard tools and the fundamentals of computational research.
Community outreach
We bring robotics to K-12 students through the Experiential Robotics Platform kit, giving younger students hands-on practice with robot assembly, circuit basics, and Arduino coding.
Meet the board
Current officers
Officer elections in progress
Executive board
The 2026–27 executive board is being finalized. Officer names, photos, and bios will appear here after elections wrap up. Join the Discord for election announcements.
Chapter history
Alumni and past officers
The alumni roster is still being compiled. It will grow as more graduating officers are added, but the chapter's history above stands on its own.