📌About the Event

The ISTVS Student Wheel Design Competition 2026 is an international engineering design challenge organised by the International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems (ISTVS). The competition invites undergraduate and graduate student teams to design a 3D-printable wheel optimised for traction on deformable terrain. Participants will apply concepts from terramechanics, vehicle mobility, and engineering design to develop innovative wheel solutions that will be tested under controlled soil conditions.

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ℹ️ Event Details

• Organised by: International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems (ISTVS)
• Mode of Conduct: Hybrid format
• Design submissions are completed online.
• Final presentations and competition activities will take place during the 56th ISTVS Conference in Pretoria, South Africa.
• Competition Theme: Designing high-performance wheels for improved traction and mobility on challenging terrains.
• Challenge Format:
• Teams design a wheel model suitable for off-road terrain applications.
• Submitted designs are manufactured and tested by competition organisers.
• Performance is evaluated through controlled experiments using soil testing setups.

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📅 Important Dates

• Registration Opens: 13 March 2026
• Registration Deadline: 15 May 2026
• Wheel Design & Report Submission Deadline: 25 September 2026

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🎯 Eligibility & Rules

• Eligibilty:
• Open to undergraduate and graduate student teams worldwide.
• Teams should consist of students interested in engineering design, vehicle systems, and terrain mobility research.
• Submission Requirements:
• 3D wheel design file (STL format)
• Predicted drawbar pull performance
• Target angular velocity for testing
• Technical design report
• Presentation (live or recorded)

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🏆 Benefits for the Participants

• Opportunity to showcase innovative wheel designs at an international engineering conference.
• Hands-on experience with real-world testing of terrain vehicle systems.
• Recognition among global researchers, engineers, and mobility experts.
• Exposure to advanced concepts in:
• Off-road vehicle engineering
• Terramechanics
• Simulation-based design
• Vehicle mobility research
• Winning teams gain international visibility within the ISTVS community.