Rover Technologies

Benefits to NASA Funded Missions: The rover technology developed in this project enables searching for volatiles on remote surfaces. The current target of this work is the AES Resource Prospector mission. This element is performing the technology development for the rover which will support mapping volatiles in water ice at the lunar polars. Benefits to NASA Unfunded & Planned Missions: The technology developed in this element will be extensible to rovers required for future human Mars missions. Additionally, the component technologies (actuators, motors, motor control, software, navigation, active suspensions, etc) coming out of this element after technology maturation will be available for infusion into out other NASA missions, payload, systems and subsystems. Benefits to Other Government Agencies: The extreme terrain mobility and dexterous mobility system capabilities through rovers developed in this element applicability in the Department of Defense (for troop mobility, robotic scouting, state side logistics support) Department of Homeland Security (border patrolling, and Department of Energy (access to radiated areas). Benefits to the Commercial Space Industry: As commercial space moves beyond cargo and crew resupply to ISS, the technologies developed within this element could be shared with commercial space companies to enable surface mobility on Mars or moon. Benefits to the Nation: This item does not benefit the nation