Strong Contribution to Defense Technologies

Students from the Faculty of Engineering at İzmir University of Economics (IUE) have developed a special bomb disposal robot named “Eclipse,” which can conduct surface scans thanks to its robotic arm, reconnaissance drone, camera and sensors. Fully designed at IUE in terms of its drive, power and control systems, Eclipse features image processing capabilities and can operate continuously for 3 hours, scanning an area of 10 kilometers around it. The robot ranked among the top 10 finalists out of nearly 1,300 projects in the EFES 2026 Defense Science and Technologies Project Competition. Capable of detecting mines or explosives on all types of surfaces even under the most challenging weather conditions and reporting their coordinates, the approximately 50-kilogram robot’s entire software infrastructure was also developed by young engineers at IUE.

The team, consisting of İzmir University of Economics students Erkin Eriş, Faruk Emre Yavuz, Efe Erdoğan, Berk Belkıs, Ege Mutlu, Berkay Bağcı and Yusuf Akçakır, carried out their work, which has been ongoing for approximately 20 months, under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Oğuz Ekim from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

STATIC ANALYSES WERE CONDUCTED

Several engineering methods were applied during the development of the electronic, mechanical and software subsystems of Eclipse, a robot that can be used in the defense industry. Static analyses were conducted on the robot’s suspension system and robotic arm prototype. Special design and soldering methods were also used for the robot’s electronic hardware infrastructure. Field tests were also carried out for the robot.

“IT WILL PROTECT HUMAN LIFE”

Sharing detailed information about the project, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Oğuz Ekim emphasized that the project carries strategic value and said, “Our students developed many critical components of the robot, from its mechanical design and electronic infrastructure to its power and control systems and image processing software, using their own knowledge and expertise. Throughout this process, they carried out intensive R&D work to create a reliable, durable and functional system that takes real field conditions into account. From the perspective of the defense industry, the development of autonomous systems that will protect human life in high-risk tasks such as bomb disposal and mine detection is of great importance. Eclipse’s ability to conduct surface scans, analyze its surroundings with its robotic arm, reconnaissance drone, camera and sensors, and operate under harsh weather conditions clearly demonstrates the technological potential of the project,” she said.

“WE SUPPORTED IT WITH FIELD TESTS”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekim continued as follows: “While designing this robot, our students used many engineering methods together. They performed static analyses on the suspension system and robotic arm prototype, carried out special design and soldering work for the electronic hardware, and developed image processing and control systems on the software side. They supported their laboratory work with field tests and evaluated the robot’s performance under real conditions. This process greatly strengthened their skills in problem solving, system design, teamwork, project management and making engineering decisions. Their qualification for the finals in an important organization such as the EFES 2026 Defense Science and Technologies Project Competition, which includes many qualified projects from across the country, is also a concrete indicator of our students’ technical competence.”

“POWERFUL AND PROMISING”

Stating that she is proud of her students, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekim said, “It makes us extremely happy to see our young engineers develop innovative projects at a level that can offer solutions to our country’s needs in the field of defense technologies. As İzmir University of Economics, we attach great importance not only to educating our students as good engineers, but also to raising them as individuals who can produce technology for the safety, quality of life and future of society. Eclipse has become a powerful and promising outcome of this approach,” she said.