University of Michigan Autonomous Robotic Vehicle

What University of Michigan Autonomous Robotic Vehicle does

The University of Michigan Autonomous Robotic Vehicle (UMARV) team is a student-run autonomous-vehicle competition organization founded in 2016 and housed within the University of Michigan College of Engineering's Robotics Department. UMARV recruits approximately 60+ members across 10+ academic majors to design and manufacture a new autonomous ground vehicle from scratch each competition cycle and enter it in the Intelligent Ground Vehicles Competition (IGVC) at Oakland University. Operating from the Student Design Space at the Ford Motor Company Robotics Building on the UM Ann Arbor campus, the team functions through five sub-teams: Computer Vision (stereo-camera-based 2D obstacle mapping using OpenCV and ROS for white-line and pothole detection), Embedded Systems (electronic and electrical design), Navigation (path and trajectory planning from costmap and odometry using ROS and Gazebo simulation), Platform (CAD-based chassis design and fabrication), and Business (corporate sponsorship and outreach).

The team's core technology stack is ROS-centric, integrating Python and OpenCV for computer vision, Gazebo for simulation, and CAD/CAM tools for mechanical chassis design. Competition entries are produced on a roughly 2-3 year cadence: GOAT (Ground Obstacle Avoidance Transport) in 2020-2022, mARVin in 2022-2023, and mARVin 2.0 in 2025. Performance track record includes a Top 3 Design Challenge finish and 6th-place overall in 2022-2023, and 4th place in the Design Challenge at the 32nd IGVC in 2025.

UMARV is not a commercial entity and has no product revenue. Operating funding flows from a publicly disclosed four-tier corporate sponsorship program (Bronze $1,000, Silver $2,000+, Gold $3,500+, Platinum $4,500+) and in-kind support from the University of Michigan and Ford Motor Company. Named current sponsors include VectorNav (Platinum), HRT (Gold), Ford Motor Company (Bronze), MRobotics (Bronze), and the UM College of Engineering. Leadership rotates annually with student terms; the 2025-2026 Executive Committee is led by President Matt Gawthrop, Vice President Brinda Kapani, and Engineering Director Eric Bi.

Name

University of Michigan Autonomous Robotic Vehicle

Legal name

University of Michigan's Autonomous Robotic Vehicle Team

Website

https://umarv.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UMARV is a student-run University of Michigan team of 60+ members across 10+ majors that designs and manufactures a new autonomous ground vehicle each competition cycle for the Intelligent Ground Vehicles Competition, funded by tiered corporate sponsorships and supported by the UM College of Engineering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autonomous Ground Vehicles

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) & Autonomous Land Platforms (IMABAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)

Keywords

• Autonomous ground vehicles
• Robotics competition engineering
• Stereo camera navigation
• Intelligent ground vehicles
• Robotic vehicle design

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: The team generates funding through multi-tiered corporate sponsorship programs ranging from Bronze ($1000) to Platinum ($4500+), providing sponsors with brand visibility, access to engineering talent, and engagement opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UMARV is a student-run competition team that designs and manufactures a fully autonomous ground vehicle from scratch each year to compete at the Intelligent Ground Vehicles Competition (IGVC) at Oakland University. The team integrates computer vision, embedded systems, navigation, and mechanical platform engineering into a single mobile robot, leveraging ROS, Python, OpenCV, Gazebo simulation, and CAD-based chassis fabrication.

Product overview

UMARV is a student-run autonomous vehicle competition team that designs and manufactures new autonomous vehicles annually from scratch to compete at the Intelligent Ground Vehicles Competition. The team operates through five subteams: Computer Vision (using OpenCV and ROS for obstacle detection), Embedded Systems (electronic/electrical systems), Navigation (path and trajectory planning using Gazebo and ROS simulation), Platform (chassis design and manufacturing), and Business (sponsorships and fundraising). Each year's vehicle is a distinct product iteration, with past vehicles including GOAT (2020-2022), mARVin (2022-2023), and mARVin 2.0 (2025).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• mARVin 2.0 The 2025 autonomous robotic vehicle competition entry, designed and manufactured from scratch by the UMARV team across Computer Vision, Navigation, Embedded Systems, and Platform sub-teams. The robot is built to compete in the Intelligent Ground Vehicles Competition at Oakland University.
• mARVin The 2022-2023 autonomous vehicle competition entry from UMARV, which finished Top 3 in the Design Challenge and 6th place overall at the Intelligent Ground Vehicles Competition.
• GOAT (Ground Obstacle Avoidance Transport) The first autonomous vehicle submitted by UMARV (and the first from University of Michigan Ann Arbor) to the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition, used during the 2020-2022 cycle.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4th place overall in Design Challenge at 32nd Intelligent Ground Vehicles Competition (2025)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• University of Michigan College of EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe team is located within the Robotics Department at the College of Engineering and operates in the Ford Motor Company Robotics Building.
• Oakland University (IGVC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of the annual Intelligent Ground Vehicles Competition where the team competes. IGVC offers a design experience at the cutting edge of engineering education.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• RoboNation / RoboSub / IGVC partner ecosystem: RoboNation organizes university marine- and ground-based autonomous vehicle competitions (RoboSub, IGVC, SUAS). Comparable as the broader organizer of competition circuits UMARV participates in and as a pipeline connecting student AV teams with defense/aerospace sponsors.
• FIRST Robotics Competition (FIRST): FIRST runs large-scale K-12 and early-college student robotics competitions with corporate sponsorship. Comparable as a parallel university-facing student robotics sponsorship and pipeline model, though operating at a younger age band and different scale.

Direct peers

• MIT Driverless / MIT Autonomous Vehicle teams: Student-run autonomous-vehicle projects at MIT competing in Formula-style driverless competitions. Closely comparable as university autonomous-vehicle teams designing full-stack software (perception, planning, controls) on racing/small-scale platforms with corporate sponsorship models.
• Oakland University Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC) host ecosystem: IGVC is the annual competition UMARV targets, fielding numerous university teams in the same autonomous ground vehicle category. Most relevant direct comparable — competing teams (e.g., other IGVC entrants) build the same class of UGV using ROS, OpenCV, and similar sensors for the same challenge.
• Virginia Tech Autonomous Vehicles (Virginia Tech): Virginia Tech runs multiple autonomous ground vehicle student teams (e.g., VictorTango, RoboSub, IGVC entries). Comparable as peer university AV organizations with corporate sponsorship and annual build cycles targeting the same competition circuits.

Broad incumbents

• Clearpath Robotics (Husky UGV): Clearpath's Husky UGV is a widely used platform in IGVC and university robotics programs. Comparable as the supplier/integrator whose off-the-shelf autonomous ground vehicle platforms UMARV-style teams build on, and as a commercial proxy for UGV technology in the same domain.
• Carnegie Mellon Robotics Club / Tartan Racing: CMU's robotics student teams and historic Tartan Racing (DARPA Urban Challenge winner). Comparable as a leading university robotics program with deep sponsor relationships and a strong competition track record — a benchmark peer for autonomous-vehicle student organizations.
• University of Michigan Robotics Department (broader U-M ecosystem): The host academic unit at U-M that UMARV operates within. Comparable as the broader institutional setting with shared facilities (Ford Robotics Building), faculty, and overlapping student-robotics initiatives — a parent-like context rather than a competitor.
• Stanford Racing / Autonomous Systems Lab: Stanford's autonomous systems research and student racing teams (DARPA Grand Challenge lineage). Comparable as a top-tier university program with deep autonomy expertise, industry sponsors, and competition pedigree — a benchmark for what well-resourced student AV teams achieve.

Emerging players

• Formula SAE / Formula Student Electric and Driverless teams: University teams building autonomous and electric race vehicles under the Formula SAE/FS umbrella. Comparable in structure (student-run, sponsor-funded, annual build cadence, multidisciplinary) and increasingly overlapping with autonomous ground vehicle development.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umarv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Michigan Autonomous Robotic Vehicle