Novel Imaging Technologies for Optimized Lunar Surface Navigation

Alphacore, Inc proposes a novel imaging technology tailored for lunar applications, focusing on optimizing motion imagery under extreme environmental constraints. Our solution addresses bandwidth limitations, harsh lighting conditions, radiation exposure, and thermal fluctuations by integrating advanced adaptive compression, AI-driven automated camera control, and low-SWaP modular imaging systems. The key objectives include ensuring high-resolution video transmission within limited bandwidth, utilizing AI for autonomous adjustments, and creating resilient hardware solutions capable of enduring harsh lunar conditions. Our proposed introduces AI-driven automation that dynamically optimizes imaging parameters in response to environmental changes. Additionally, our adaptive compression algorithms enable efficient data transmission within NASA’s constrained lunar communication infrastructure, ensuring that high-definition motion imagery can be streamed in real time without excessive bandwidth consumption. By developing a scalable, low-SWaP imaging solution, our technology aligns with NASA’s goals of reducing payload size and weight while maximizing performance. The integration of multi-modal sensor fusion enhances navigation, hazard detection, and terrain mapping, making our imaging system a key enabler for both robotic and human missions. Leveraging radiation-hardened FPGA technology combined with advanced event-based and intensity sensors and adaptive algorithms, our system aims to significantly reduce risks associated with navigation inaccuracies, this capability extends beyond NASA's immediate exploration efforts and into potential collaborations with commercial lunar payload services and defense applications. Our solution supports NASA’s strategic objective of inspiring future generations through visually compelling, scientifically meaningful lunar content, and contributes to the broader vision of sustained human presence on the Moon and beyond.

Current imaging solutions rely on terrestrial hardware adapted for space applications. However, these commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) systems lack resilience to lunar conditions and have limited adaptability for constrained bandwidth and unpredictable environmental factors. Most existing solutions struggle with real-time compression and image enhancement techniques suited for the extreme lunar lighting and thermal variations. Our innovation surpasses existing approaches by implementing real-time adaptability through AI-driven automation and multi-modal sensor fusion, ensuring optimized video transmission and autonomous imaging adjustments tailored to lunar conditions. We will achieve real-time, sub-centimeter accuracy for lunar digital twins, develop resilient imaging systems optimized for lunar environmental extremes, and create immersive extended reality platforms integrating real-time lunar data for collaborative decision-making. Missions that stand to benefit from Alphacore’s multi-modal sensing system include Artemis Program, Lunar Gateway, Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS), and Human Exploration Requirements for Audio and Imagery (HEO-R-2). Lunar-based imaging solutions will play a crucial role in industries such as lunar mining, space tourism, and extraterrestrial infrastructure development. Companies investing in lunar resource extraction require real-time, high-fidelity imaging for surface mapping, operational monitoring, and data analytics. The demand for real-time imaging extends beyond space, with potential applications in terrestrial markets such as defense, environmental monitoring, and disaster response. The AI-driven automation and adaptive compression techniques developed for lunar imaging can be applied to remote sensing, improving efficiency in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and national security. Extended reality (XR) applications represent another commercialization pathway, particularly in public engagement, astronaut training, and mission simulations. Immersive experiences supported by real-time lunar imaging could drive new market opportunities in education, virtual tourism, and industrial training.

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.

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.