The 2025 STORM challenge, Hailstorm, simulated a dangerous storm-research mission. Teams designed and built remotely operated robots capable of collecting and studying hail while their operators controlled them from a separate room without a direct view of the field.

During each four-minute match, robots deployed from a transport van, navigated around fallen street signs, collected foam hailstones, and sorted them by size into the correct bins. Robots could also earn points by lifting damaged street signs, receiving and reporting infrared weather data, and safely returning to the van before the match ended.

The challenge tested each team’s mechanical design, object collection and sorting systems, sensors, programming, remote controls, and operator interface.

Mercury Robotics earned the Highest Score Award.