UL FS Develops Multi-Robot System for Lunar Surface Exploration
UL FS
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Researchers at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, have developed an intelligent multi-robot system that could be used in the future for exploring the lunar surface. The system was successfully tested at the LUNA facility in Germany, which simulates lunar surface conditions.
The greatest challenge researchers face when exploring the surface of celestial bodies with autonomous vehicles is how to increase the speed of scientific missions, which is currently measured in meters per day. Researchers from the Laboratory for Mechatronics, Production Systems and Automation (LAMPA) at UL FS found a solution in a fleet of smaller rovers capable of cooperating and performing tasks autonomously.
The advantage of a robot fleet lies in the fact that individual units are simpler and cheaper, and at the same time, they can work together and assist each other, allowing tasks to be completed even if one unit fails. The challenge in developing such a system is to ensure reliable, autonomous, and collaborative operation of the fleet. This is the focus of the TerraScout project, under which a system using five rovers was developed. Each rover was built on an existing commercial platform, upgraded with a depth camera, an onboard computer for data processing, and a custom device for measuring soil load-bearing capacity.
The project addresses cooperative terrain mapping – specifically, what and how the rovers need to communicate and coordinate to accomplish the task efficiently. One of the biggest challenges was establishing a shared terrain map without using a GPS signal. The robots have to help each other by recognizing common features such as rocks or hills to localize themselves relatively. When determining goals, we found inspiration in nature – our robots behave similarly to a flock of birds.
Rok Vrabič, project leader
The system was successfully tested at the LUNA facility, which officially opened in September 2024 as a state-of-the-art center for training and testing future lunar missions. Located in Cologne, Germany, LUNA is a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Its purpose is to simulate lunar surface conditions, enabling astronauts, scientists, and experts to train and test innovative technologies in preparation for human and robotic missions to the Moon.
"The DLR selected the project because of its interesting and appealing topic," said Vrabič. Over two days, they conducted 13 tests under different lighting conditions and with varying fleet sizes. They evaluated the robots’ ability to traverse the terrain, mapping accuracy, and the effectiveness of soil load-bearing measurements. "The results are very promising – the system demonstrated a high level of reliability, robustness, and readiness for complex missions," the faculty reported. In addition to testing the system's operation, the team also collected data to support further development of machine vision systems for use on the Moon, lunar surface navigation, and inter-robot collaboration to achieve a high level of autonomy and efficiency in space exploration.
The TerraScout project is funded by ESA as part of Slovenia’s broader efforts to participate in European space projects. This year, Slovenia became a full member of ESA, opening the door to participation in prestigious scientific programs. "Small on Earth, big in space" is the slogan that reflects Slovenia’s ambitions in the field of space research and technology.
