CoOptiSense – Cooperative Optimized Sensor Fusion for Next-Gen Rover Navigation

Capability Need/Knowledge Gap: (1) Next-gen rover missions will utilize both cameras & LIDAR to navigate, but traditional sensor fusion approaches collect too much 3D data for real-time processing. (2) Active cooperation between camera & LIDAR can generate optimized 3D maps, with dense useful data in crucial areas and less wasted measurement overall. Objectives: Demonstrate cooperative camera-LIDAR fusion for navigation: using complementary sensors to collect 3D data where its needed most and enhance the resolution of key hazards, within spaceflight computing and sensor constraints.

Deliverables: Camera/LIDAR sim and test datasets; trained DNNs for data reduction sampling and super-resolution, technical report and paper, infusion roadmap

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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