Space Robotics

Space exploration is invaluable for advancing our understanding of the universe and our place in it. In the context of space exploration, robots can perform tasks that are too dangerous or difficult for humans to do.

The scientifically most interesting areas are also the hardest to access: craters, caves, and canyons have been out of human and robotic reach to this day. We want to enable the robotic exploration of these areas. To this end, we must develop robots and algorithms to cope with compressible soils, large geometric features such as boulders, and steep inclination.

At the Robotic Systems Lab, we investigate holistic robotic solutions for future space exploration missions. We identify the unique challenges and mission goals in space, address them in the design, and validate our approaches in representative environments on Earth.

In the lab, we perform research on multiple aspects of space robotics:

• System engineering and hardware development of locomotion platforms for low-gravity exploration.
  
• Locomotion control to safely and robustly tackle the most challenging planetary terrain. 
• Exploration approaches, including teamed exploration with various levels of autonomy
• Path-Planning for efficient and safe traverses of legged robots in potential mission scenarios
• Assembly and construction tasks for space applications
• Field validation campaigns to test our systems in real environmentIn 2022, we participated in the ESA/ESRIC Space Resources Challenge (link), where we deployed a team of legged robots in a lunar analog mission.
  
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In 2022, we participated in the external pageESA/ESRIC Space Resources Challengecall_made, where we deployed a team of legged robots in a lunar analog mission.

Contacts: Hendrik Kolvenbach () / Philip Arm ()