Cuberover for Lunar Science and Exploration

The results of Astrobotic’s current SBIR Phase II contract (80NSSC18C0037) program have culminated with a prototype CubeRover and led to a subsequent contract from NASA’s Tipping Point program to flight qualify and commercialize the CubeRover product line. This Tipping Point contract provides $1.96M to Astrobotic and will be used as the matching investment for this Phase IIE program. This contract funds the enhancement of the CubeRover product line and develops features such as more mature payload interfaces, a lighter weight, more affordable, all-wheel-drive configuration; solar recharge; resource-aware adaptive image compression; a robust rover-lander interface; and the creation of technical user manuals and guides. Ground software is an element of the CubeRover product line that is aligned with the developments described above in that it is required to sell the CubeRover as a complete package. The CubeRover ground software package requires resources to be matured and aligned with payload customer needs, however. Ground software is a critical piece of the payload customer experience and is the primary interface that customers will use to interact with Astrobotic rover operators during the mission. Furthermore, a robust ground software package will allow payload customers to prepare for their planetary missions well in advance of the actual mission by commanding their own CubeRover engineering units on the ground. In discussion with payload customers for the CubeRover, as well as Astrobotic’s Peregrine and Griffin lander, we have learned that payload customers demand a ground software interface that provides robust telemetry, is reliable, and is easy to use. Consequently, Astrobotic proposes to mature the existing CubeRover ground software package in this Phase IIE program.

Programs such as the Payload and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon and Lunar Surface Technology Research are two excellent opportunities that would benefit from the utilization of CubeRovers and this associated software. Astrobotic also plans to include this ground software on its larger Polaris rover product line, which supports the upcoming Lunar Surface Science Mobility Systems program. This ground software can also be leveraged to support any planetary rovers developed by NASA, such as KSC's RASSOR and JPL's A-PUFFER.

The proposed ground software offers tremendous value to Astrobotic’s customers, many of which have never interacted with space missions before. For example, Astrobotic is in discussions with Apple and Disney to provide CubeRovers for their company-led missions. This technology is also extensible to any waypoint directed robotic applications in the defense, energy, aerospace, or maritime markets.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.