Two first-place wins for BUT in ZLATÝ AMPER 2026 competition

The ZLATÝ AMPER competition, a traditional part of the international AMPER electrical engineering trade fair, recognizes the most beneficial exhibits and technical innovations presented by exhibitors. This year, Brno University of Technology received two out of the eight awards presented. It succeeded with the control electronics of the 3MI instrument for a European space mission, developed by researchers from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication at BUT (FEEC BUT), which won in the Best Digital Solution category. The university team Brno Mars Rover also scored with its Freya rover in the Best University Project category.

Two first-place wins for BUT in the ZLATÝ AMPER 2026 competition – holding the award in the center left is Lukáš Fujcik from the Department of Microelectronics at FEEC BUT, and on the right is Jan Drochýtek from Brno Mars Rover. | Author: BVV

The 3MI instrument is part of the MetOp-SG satellite developed within a project of the ESA and EUMETSAT agencies. From orbit, the satellite provides a flow of essential data for global weather forecasting and climate monitoring. Thanks to the 3MI instrument, it is possible to observe the planet beyond the visible spectrum and in high detail. It enables the differentiation of aerosol types, monitoring of dust transport, air pollution, and changes in atmospheric composition. The results contribute to more accurate weather forecasts, air quality monitoring, and climate research. The eight-year development represents a significant contribution of the Czech Republic to prestigious ESA space missions. The expert jury appreciated that the instrument brings a new class of digital services to the general public.

“When we started working on this project, I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to see the first images from this instrument,” recalled research team leader Lukáš Fujcik. “For years, we worked through every detail of the electronics, tested in extreme conditions, and coordinated efforts with teams across Europe. Today, I see our electronics reliably operating 817 kilometers above Earth and helping us better understand our planet.”

The 3MI instrument is part of the MetOp-SG satellite. | Author: Lukáš Fujcik Archives

3MI model at the AMPER trade fair. | Author: Václav Koníček

The university team Brno Mars Rover was founded at FEEC BUT and today brings together students interested in robotics across faculties and study levels. It focuses on the development of autonomous robots for space-themed competitions. In 2025, the team participated in the European Rover Challenge finals, where it placed 11th out of more than a hundred teams from around the world with its Freya rover. The Freya rover and its accompanying drone are autonomous systems capable of navigating unknown terrain and collecting soil samples from both the surface and depths of up to 30 cm. “After last year’s success in an international competition, we see the success in the Zlatý Amper competition as further confirmation of our direction and recognition of the long-term work of all our team members,” said Stanislav Svědiroh on behalf of Brno Mars Rover.

The Freya Rover at the AMPER trade fair. | Author: Václav Koníček

Members of the Brno Mars Rover team with their rover, Freya, in the finals of the European Rover Challenge. | Author: KSAF

“I was very impressed by the exhibits from BUT’s student projects. At the stand, I saw examples of cooperation with ESA and major companies, participation in international competitions, and the results of newly established startups. The Czech Republic must strengthen its entrepreneurial spirit, and I believe that activities like these contribute to that. This is a future that makes sense,” appreciated the activities of BUT students during the Zlatý Amper awards ceremony Jan Rafaj, President of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic.

“I consider the AMPER trade fair an important technological celebration full of excellent exhibits. As confirmed by the Zlatý Amper competition, BUT holds a strong position in this environment—both in top-level research and in student creative activities. I followed this year’s announcement of results with great pride and congratulate both awarded projects. Both awards are also related to space applications, which are among the university’s strategic priorities,” said BUT Rector Ladislav Janíček, adding: “I also appreciate that the President of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, Jan Rafaj, visited the BUT exhibition and that we were able to present what we can achieve at the university. Special thanks also go to BVV for the excellent organization of the event and for inviting BUT to help shape the accompanying program.”

BUT's exhibit at the AMPER trade fair. | Author: Václav Koníček

The awarded projects build on BUT’s successes in previous editions of the AMPER trade fair. In 2024, the Zlatý Amper award went to the Smartbox for smart measurement and load management in energy networks, while last year the expert jury was impressed by the FRASCAN II spectrometer.

Congratulations to the successful projects!

The text was published as a press release