The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) has been awarded a $750,000 grant from NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). The funding is intended to develop a statewide network of robotics research aimed at advancing NASA’s Moon-to-Mars objectives and facilitating future deep space exploration. Over the next three years, the project titled “Prospecting and Pre-Colonization of the Moon and Mars using Autonomous Robots with Human-in-the-Loop” will involve scientists from the University of Nevada, Reno, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), DRI, and NASA’s Ames Research Center.
“This award highlights the exceptional talent and forward-thinking approach of Nevada’s researchers,” said Interim Chancellor Patricia Charlton. “This project will not only enhance our research capabilities but also inspire future generations of scientists and engineers in our state.”
The initiative aims to use robots for preparing sites for human and robot missions on the Moon and Mars. Research will be conducted in areas in Northern and Southern Nevada that mimic lunar and Martian conditions, as well as at NASA testing facilities. This project aligns with Nevada’s Economic Development Plan by enhancing research infrastructure at institutions like the University of Nevada, Reno, UNLV, and DRI in fields such as computer vision, robotics, virtual reality, hydrology, and environmental physics.
“By leveraging our state’s unique landscape and expertise, we aim to create cutting-edge robotic solutions that will enable colonization and sustainable human presence on other planets,” said Dr. Christos Papachristos, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Nevada Reno and Director of the Robotic Workers Lab.
Key objectives include energy-aware autonomous environmental sampling for exploring resources; surface engineering to prepare human colonies by clearing rocks; frameworks for efficient human supervision despite communication constraints; self-deployable cable-driven robots for monitoring; ground-based space worker robots for transporting objects; smart sampling technology-equipped resource-searching robots; and an interactive digital worksite twin for remote mission commanding.
“The development of autonomous robots that can operate effectively in the challenging environments of the Moon and Mars is crucial for future exploration missions. The innovative research NASA will conduct through this partnership will not only advance our understanding but also push robotic technology boundaries,” said Terry Fong, chief roboticist of NASA’s Ames Research Center.
“We are thrilled that NASA has chosen to fund the Nevada team and their pioneering research. This work will not only advance NASA’s missions but also foster significant technological development within Nevada,” said Eric Wilcox, Director of Nevada NASA EPSCoR. “This project exemplifies our state’s innovative spirit.”
