The Challenge 

The Antarctic continent is the most pristine and intact continent on the planet. The cold, wind, crevasses, and drought make the Antarctic dangerous for researchers. The currently used vehicles run on fossil fuels, polluting the up-until-now un-touched continent. Due to limited transportation services to- and in the continent, gasoline prices can reach 100,-/Liter. Lastly, vehicles are bound by human restriction, foods and fuels are needed and once these run out the vehicle returns to basis limiting the research range. Concluding, pollution, safety concerns, fuel prices, and limited range of vehicles, are the main problems team Polar in aiming to solve.

The Solution

Team Polar will develop a vehicle to solve the mentioned problems. The vehicle will be solar-powered and therefore not produce any emissions while driving. Furthermore, the vehicle will be driving autonomously through Antarctica, this way it is possible to facilitate research for a longer period of time and to go to the most remote places. The answer to the dangerous crevasses field will be a system on the car that detects and maps these crevasses and drives around them. The vehicle will also have a modular platform where researchers can attach their equipment to do research.

The Mission

Team POLAR aims to venture into the unexplored territories of the Antarctic with an autonomous and sustainable vehicle; enabling global accessibility of Antarctic research via a modular research platform, detecting new routes, and doing this all in an economical, safe and environmentally friendly way. With these goals Team POLAR also aims to address environmental impacts on the Antarctic.

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