Lift and release
The organizer-operated drone carries and releases the stored CanSat.
Special competition · 2 of 2 · Format in development
CanSat Comeback Challenge
Release. Land. Return.
A compact autonomous recovery challenge in which a CanSat is released by an organizer-operated drone, descends and lands, then travels on the ground toward a designated return target.
HMDS 2027 student competitions
Two separate challenges
The Comeback Challenge is independent of the Multi-Domain Robotics Challenge. Teams may follow the competition that best matches their engineering interests.
Challenge concept
From aerial release to autonomous return
The CanSat Comeback Challenge focuses on the complete recovery sequence rather than flight alone. Teams design a compact system that survives release and descent, confirms landing and then begins a terrestrial return toward the assigned target.
Planned mission sequence
One continuous recovery mission
The final sequence, release conditions and scoring will be confirmed in the official rulebook.
Full-size map
Controlled descent
The recovery system stabilizes the CanSat during descent.
Touchdown and deployment
After landing, the CanSat separates from its recovery system and prepares for ground movement.
Autonomous runback
The CanSat navigates on the ground from the landing point toward the goal.
Reach the target
Performance is evaluated from the autonomous arrival relative to the designated target.
Engineering direction
Different terrestrial designs can solve the mission
The final rulebook will define accepted configurations and technical limits. The current design direction is intentionally open to more than one mobility concept.
Two-wheel concepts
Compact two-wheel or self-balancing architectures may offer a simple and lightweight approach.
Multi-wheel or tracked concepts
Additional wheels or tracks may improve stability and terrain handling after landing.
Alternative terrestrial concepts
Other justified ground-mobility solutions may be considered when consistent with the final rules.
Competition details are being finalized
The official rulebook, technical limits, venue conditions, release height, course layout, scoring and registration procedure will be published after committee and venue review. No competition rulebook is available for download yet.