> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://2026.istvs.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://2026.istvs.org/conference/student-design-competition.md). # Student Design Competition ISTVS 2026 | October 11-15, 2026 | Pretoria, South Africa Step up to the engineering challenge of the 2026 ISTVS Student Wheel Design Competition, hosted at the University of Pretoria as part of the 56th Conference of the International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems. We are calling on undergraduate and graduate student teams worldwide to apply foundational terramechanics principles by designing a 3D-printable wheel optimised for maximum traction. Your objective is to engineer the wheel geometry and predict the ideal angular velocity required to maximise drawbar pull. The competition organisers will manufacture your design and subject it to rigorous empirical testing in a controlled sand soil bin under identical load conditions for all teams. Prove the validity of your theoretical models, as your overall performance is evaluated on maximum drawbar pull, predictive accuracy, a technical design report, and a formal presentation. Register your team by **15 May 2026** to secure your place in the competition, and submit your final deliverables by **25 September 2026**. The official rulebook and required materials can be found on [Google Drive](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MFw034p7ziy4XJ6BmuIC7BoxZuddSXNM?usp=sharing). For more information, please reach out to Andries Peenze at . --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://2026.istvs.org/conference/student-design-competition.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.