Search Results (19)

As humanity prepares for prolonged space missions and future extraterrestrial settlements, developing reliable and resilient food-production systems is becoming a critical priority. Space agriculture, the cultivation of plants beyond Earth (particularly on the Moon and Mars), faces a constellation of interdependent environmental, biological, and engineering challenges. These include limited solar radiation, elevated ionizing radiation, large thermal variability, non-Earth atmospheric pressures, reduced gravity, regolith substrates with low nutrient-holding capacity, high-CO₂/low-O₂ atmospheres, pervasive dust, constrained water and nutrient availability, altered plant physiology, and the overarching need for closed-loop, resource-efficient systems. These stressors create an exceptionally challenging environment for plant growth and require tightly engineered agricultural systems. This review examines these constraints by organizing them across environmental differences, resource limitations, biological adaptation, and operational demands, emphasizing their systemic interdependence and the cascading effects that arise when one subsystem changes. By integrating findings from planetary science, plant biology, space systems engineering, biotechnology, robotics, and controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), the review outlines current limitations and highlights emerging strategies such as regolith utilization, advanced hydroponics, crop selection and genetic engineering, and the use of robotics, sensors, and artificial intelligence (AI) for monitoring and automation. Finally, the article underscores the broader relevance of space–agriculture research for terrestrial food security in extreme or resource-limited environments, providing a structured foundation for designing resilient and sustainable agricultural systems for space exploration and beyond. Full article

Low-gravity and microgravity simulation devices for training astronauts to manipulate objects under terrestrial conditions are critical for improving operational performance and efficiency in extraterrestrial environments while minimizing risk. To this end, a rigid-suspension-type astronaut operational training system (RSAOTS) was developed, which can precisely simulate the motion characteristics of target objects in low/microgravity environments. In the RSAOTS, to realize rapid and extensive inertial motion of the target object along non-gravity axes, we designed a non-gravity axes tracking system (NGATS). The NGATS adopts an X-Y-X Cartesian robot configuration and is driven by timing belt linear modules. The composite compliance control strategy of NGATS comprises two loops: the inner loop uses active disturbance rejection control to precisely control motion, whereas the outer loop integrates human–robot interaction admittance control with constraint disturbance force control. This control strategy effectively minimizes the constraint disturbance force exerted by the NGATS on the target object, retaining only its inertial characteristics along the non-gravity axes. The feasibility of the NGATS configuration and composite control strategy was validated through microgravity environment simulation experiments conducted along the non-gravity axes. Experimental results show that for target objects with a mass of 37.5 kg, the NGATS adopts the proposed control strategy, the root mean squared errors of the constraint disturbance force are 0.1828 N in the X-axis and 0.3321 N in the Y-axis. Full article

Legged rovers are gaining interest for planetary exploration due to their high mobility. However, loose regolith on celestial surfaces like the Moon and Mars often leads to slippage as legs disturb the soil. To address this, a walking technique has been proposed that enhances soil support by transmitting vibrations from the robot’s legs. This approach aims to improve mobility by increasing the ground’s bearing capacity. To evaluate its effectiveness in space-like environments, this study experimentally investigates the effect of vibration on bearing capacity under low atmospheric pressure, which can influence soil behavior due to reduced air resistance. Using Silica No. 5 and Toyoura sand as test materials, experiments were conducted to compare bearing capacities under standard and low pressure. The results demonstrate that applying vibration significantly improves bearing capacity and that the influence of atmospheric pressure is minimal. These findings support the viability of vibration-assisted locomotion for planetary rovers operating in low-pressure extraterrestrial environments. Full article

Extraterrestrial exploration presents unique challenges for robotic systems, as traditional rigid rovers face limitations in stowage volume, traction on unpredictable terrain, and susceptibility to damage. Soft robotics offers promising solutions through bio-inspired designs that can mimic natural locomotion mechanisms. Here, we present an optimised, spider-inspired soft jumping robot for extraterrestrial exploration that addresses key challenges in soft robotics: actuation efficiency, controllability, and deployment. Drawing inspiration from spider physiology—particularly their hydraulic extension mechanism—we develop a lightweight limb capable of multi-modal behaviour with significantly reduced energy requirements. Our 3D-printed soft actuator leverages pressure-driven collapse for efficient retraction and pressure-enhanced rapid extension, achieving a power-to-weight ratio of 249 W/kg. The integration of a non-backdriveable clutch mechanism enables the system to hold positions with zero energy expenditure—a critical feature for space applications. Experimental characterisation and a subsequent optimisation methodology across various materials, dimensions, and pressures reveal that the robot can achieve jumping heights of up to 1.86 times its body length. The collapsible nature of the soft limb enables efficient stowage during spacecraft transit, while the integrated pumping system facilitates self-deployment upon arrival. This work demonstrates how biologically inspired design principles can be effectively applied to develop versatile robotic systems optimised for the unique constraints of extraterrestrial exploration. Full article

Path-planning algorithms for planetary rovers are critical for autonomous robotic exploration, enabling the efficient and safe traversal of complex and dynamic extraterrestrial terrains. Unlike terrestrial mobile robots, planetary rovers must navigate highly unpredictable environments influenced by diverse factors such as terrain variability, obstacles, illumination conditions, and temperature fluctuations, necessitating advanced path-planning strategies to ensure mission success. This review comprehensively synthesizes recent advancements in planetary rover path-planning algorithms. First, we categorize these algorithms from a constraint-oriented perspective, distinguishing between internal rover state constraints and external environmental constraints. Next, we examine rule-based path-planning approaches, including graph search-based methods, potential field methods, sampling-based techniques, and dynamic window approaches, analyzing representative algorithms in each category. Subsequently, we explore bio-inspired path-planning methods, such as evolutionary algorithms, fuzzy computing, and machine learning-based approaches, with a particular emphasis on the latest developments and prospects of machine learning techniques in planetary rover navigation. Finally, we synthesize key insights from existing algorithms and discuss future research directions, highlighting their potential applications in planetary exploration missions. Full article

This paper presents the development of a quasi-direct drive motor for space applications, which offers opportunities for dynamic applications, such as in walking robots. The use of such a motor in a space environment presents new challenges that make it necessary to go beyond the conventional design for terrestrial applications. To achieve this, the DFKI-X2D joint was developed as part of the MODKOM project. As an approach, an in-runner and an out-runner motor are developed as prototypes and subjected to several functional tests, including tests on a motor test bench, in a climate chamber, and via vibration tests. During these tests, the in-runner approach showed advantages, especially in thermal terms, and based on the findings, a final iteration was designed as the space version, which will undergo additional environmental testing in the future to move towards TRL 5. Full article

The Lunarminer framework explores the use of biomimetic swarm robotics, inspired by the division of labor in leafcutter ants and the synchronized flashing of fireflies, to enhance lunar water ice extraction. Simulations of water ice extraction within Shackleton Crater showed that the framework may improve task allocation, by reducing the extraction time by up to 40% and energy consumption by 31% in scenarios with high ore block quantities. This system, capable of producing up to 181 L of water per day from excavated regolith with a conversion efficiency of 0.8, may allow for supporting up to eighteen crew members. It has demonstrated robust fault tolerance and sustained operational efficiency, even for a 20% robot failure rate. The framework may help to address key challenges in lunar resource extraction, particularly in the permanently shadowed regions. To refine the proposed strategies, it is recommended that further studies be conducted on their large-scale applications in space mining operations at the Extraterrestrial Environmental Simulation (EXTERRES) laboratory at the University of Adelaide. Full article

While mobile ground robots have now the physical capacity of travelling in unstructured challenging environments such as extraterrestrial surfaces or devastated terrains, their safe and efficient autonomous navigation has yet to be improved before entrusting them with complex unsupervised missions in such conditions. Recent advances in machine learning applied to semantic scene understanding and environment representations, coupled with modern embedded computational means and sensors hold promising potential in this matter. This paper therefore introduces the combination of semantic understanding, continuous implicit environment representation and smooth informed path-planning in a new method named COSMAu-Nav. It is specifically dedicated to autonomous ground robot navigation in unstructured environments and adaptable for embedded, real-time usage without requiring any form of telecommunication. Data clustering and Gaussian processes are employed to perform online regression of the environment topography, occupancy and terrain traversability from 3D semantic point clouds while providing an uncertainty modeling. The continuous and differentiable properties of Gaussian processes allow gradient based optimisation to be used for smooth local path-planning with respect to the terrain properties. The proposed pipeline has been evaluated and compared with two reference 3D semantic mapping methods in terms of quality of representation under localisation and semantic segmentation uncertainty using a Gazebo simulation, derived from the 3DRMS dataset. Its computational requirements have been evaluated using the Rellis-3D real world dataset. It has been implemented on a real ground robot and successfully employed for its autonomous navigation in a previously unknown outdoor environment. Full article

Returning extraterrestrial samples to Earth for analysis is crucial for planetary geological research and resource utilization. However, during their return journey, these samples undergo significant environmental changes, such as varying pressure, temperature, impact, and vibration. Hence, a dependable sealing technique that preserves sample integrity without requiring high-powered tools is necessary. This article aims to develop an automatic sealing system for collecting extraterrestrial samples, conducting parametric design and mechanical analysis on two types of proposed sealing structures with minimal sealing force as the benchmark. Additionally, the system will undergo validation through sealing and leakage detection experiments. An automated sealing system, capable of storing samples in multiple sampling tubes, is assembled for the extraterrestrial sampling device. Full article

In the framework of the Helmholtz ARCHES project, a multitude of robots, including rovers and drones, were prepared for the autonomous exploration of a test site at the foothills of Mt. Etna, Sicily—a terrain resembling extraterrestrial locations such as the Moon. To expand the suite of tools and sensors available for the exploration and investigation of the test site, we developed a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument for the geochemical analysis of local geological samples. In alignment with the mission scenario, this instrument is housed in a modular payload box that can be attached to the robotic arm of the Lightweight Rover Unit 2 (LRU2), allowing the rover to use the instrument autonomously in the field. A compact Nd:YAG laser is utilized for material ablation, generating a micro-plasma that is subsequently analyzed with a small fiber-coupled spectrometer. A single-board computer controls the LIBS hardware components for data acquisition. In this study, we provide details of the ARCHES LIBS instrument implementation, report on preceding laboratory tests where the LRU2 operated the LIBS module for the first time, and showcase the results obtained during the successful ARCHES space analogue demonstration mission campaign in summer 2022 in Sicily. Full article

Autonomous vehicles are a continuously rising technology in several industry sectors. Examples of these technologies lie in the advances in self-driving cars and can be linked to extraterrestrial exploration, such as NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers. These systems present a leading methodology allowing for increased task performance and capabilities, which are no longer limited to active human support. However, these robotic systems may vary in shape, size, locomotion capabilities, and applications. As such, this report presents a systematic literature review (SLR) regarding hybrid autonomous robotic vehicles focusing on leg–wheel locomotion. During this systematic review of the literature, a considerable number of articles were extracted from four different databases. After the selection process, a filtered sample was reviewed. A brief description of each document can be found throughout this report. Full article

The Space Race in the second half of the 20th century was primarily concerned with getting there and back. Gradually, technology and international collaboration opened new horizons, but human activity was mostly restricted around Earth’s orbit, while robotic missions were sent to solar system planets and moons. Now, nations and companies claim extraterrestrial resources and plans are in place to send humans and build bases on the Moon and Mars. Exploration and discovery are likely to be followed by exploitation and settlement. History suggests that the next step is the development of space industry. The new industrial revolution will take place in space. Chemical engineers have been educated for more than a century on designing processes adapted to the Earth’s conditions, involving a range of raw materials, atmospheric pressure, ambient temperature, solar radiation, and 1-g. In space, the raw materials differ, and the unique pressure, temperature and solar radiation conditions require new approaches and methods. In the era of space exploration, a new educational concept for chemical engineers is necessary to prepare them for playing key roles in space. To this end, we introduce Astrochemical Engineering as an advanced postgraduate course and we propose a 2-year 120 ECTS MEng curriculum with a brief description of the modules and learning outcomes. The first year includes topics such as low-gravity process engineering, cryogenics, and recycling systems. The second year includes the utilization of planetary resources and materials for space resources. The course culminates in an individual design project and comprises two specializations: Process Engineering and Space Science. The course will equip engineers and scientists with the necessary knowledge for the development of advanced processes and industrial ecologies based on closed self-sustained systems. These can be applied on Earth to help reinvent sustainability and mitigate the numerous challenges humanity faces. Full article

In this work, a dynamic model is proposed to simulate the drilling and steering process of an autonomous burrowing mole to access scientific samples from the deep subsurface of the Moon. The locomotive module is idealized as a rigid rod. The characteristic parameters are considered, including the length, cross-section diameter, and centroid of a cylindrical rod. Based on classical Lagrangian mechanics, a 3-DOF dynamic model for the locomotion of this autonomous device is developed. By introducing resistive force theory, the interaction scheme between the locomotive body and the lunar regolith is described. The effects of characteristic parameters on resistive forces and torques are studied and discussed. Proportional-derivative control strategies are introduced to calculate the tracking control forces following a planned trajectory. The simulation results show that this method provides a reliable manipulation of a mole-type robot to avoid obstacles during the tracking control process in layered sediments. Overall, the proposed reduced-order model is able to simulate the operating and controlling scenarios of an autonomous burrowing robot in lunar subsurface environments. This model provides intuitive inputs to plan the space missions of a drilling robot to extract subsurface samples on an extraterrestrial planet such as the Moon or Mars. Full article

Subterranean openings, including mines, present a unique and challenging environment for robots and autonomous exploration systems. Autonomous robots that are created today will be deployed in harsh and unexplored landscapes that humanity is increasingly encountering in its scientific and technological endeavors. Terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments pose significant challenges for both humans and robots: they are inhospitable and inaccessible to humans due to a lack of space or oxygen, poor or no illumination, unpredictable terrain, a GPS-denied environment, and a lack of satellite imagery or mapping information of any type. Underground mines provide a good physical simulation for these types of environments, and thus, can be useful for testing and developing highly sought-after autonomous navigation frameworks for autonomous agents. This review presents a collective study of robotic systems, both of individual and hybrid types, intended for deployment in such environments. The prevalent configurations, practices for their construction and the hardware equipment of existing multi-agent hybrid robotic systems will be discussed. It aims to provide a supplementary tool for defining the state of the art of coupled Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)–Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems implemented for underground exploration and navigation purposes, as well as to provide some suggestions for multi-agent robotic system solutions, and ultimately, to support the development of a semi-autonomous hybrid UGV–UAV system to assist with mine emergency responses. Full article

As we expand the search for life beyond Earth, a water-dominated planet, we turn our eyes to other aquatic worlds. Microbial life found in Earth’s many extreme habitats are considered useful analogs to life forms we are likely to find in extraterrestrial bodies of water. Modern-day benthic microbial mats inhabiting the low-oxygen, high-sulfur submerged sinkholes of temperate Lake Huron (Michigan, USA) and microbialites inhabiting the shallow, high-carbonate waters of subtropical Laguna Bacalar (Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico) serve as potential working models for exploration of extraterrestrial life. In Lake Huron, delicate mats comprising motile filaments of purple-pigmented cyanobacteria capable of oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis and pigment-free chemosynthetic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria lie atop soft, organic-rich sediments. In Laguna Bacalar, lithification by cyanobacteria forms massive carbonate reef structures along the shoreline. Herein, we document studies of these two distinct earthly microbial mat ecosystems and ponder how similar or modified methods of study (e.g., robotics) would be applicable to prospective mat worlds in other planets and their moons (e.g., subsurface Mars and under-ice oceans of Europa). Further studies of modern-day microbial mat and microbialite ecosystems can add to the knowledge of Earth’s biodiversity and guide the search for life in extraterrestrial hydrospheres. Full article