Students at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, have taken home first place in the 32nd US-based Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC) 2025 competition which took place in late May in Detroit, Michigan. Monash students competed for the first time in the competition which challenged university teams to develop and demonstrate autonomous ground vehicles capable of navigating complex, unmapped environments.
The team’s Asterius MkII showcased advanced engineering with features like a wheel-hub motor system, high-tech sensors, and modular autonomy. Though technical setbacks prevented them from competing in the IGVC navigation challenge, their strong performance in the rigorous IGVC design competition—involving written reports, presentations, and inspections—secured them first place in the competition.
“This was more than just a competition—it was a real-world engineering challenge, and the students delivered under immense pressure. Their ability to adapt, collaborate across continents, and still produce an award-winning result is something Monash can be incredibly proud of,” said Monash Professor Hai Vu who also served as one the team’s academic supervisors.