MOJO-Micro: Multi-Orthogonal Jaunting rObot in Microgravity

MOJO: The Multi-Orthogonal Jaunting rObot, is a robotic system specifically designed to traverse and inspect a 3D reversibly-assembled discrete lattice structure. The robot is optimized to operate within a periodic lattice structure, enabling simplification over current state of the art structure-traversing robots. The parabolic flights will assess the impact that microgravity has on the energy consumption, reliability, and maximum traversal speed of the robot, and explore what specific adaptations can be made to the robot that improve its performance in this environment. The project will contribute to the automated assembly of large space structure, a key milestone in NASA’s roadmap for space technology, enabling lightweight, multifunctional materials whose final size can far exceed the envelope of the launch vehicle in which it was launched.
NASA GCD Automated Reconfigurable Mission Adaptive Digital Assembly Systems (ARMADAS)

U.S. Patent (2019): Mobile Robot for Locomotion Through a 3-D Periodic Lattice Environment
Paper (2017): A Mobile Robot for Locomotion through a 3D Periodic Lattice Environment
Science Robotics January 2024: Ultralight, strong, and self-reprogrammable mechanical metamaterials

Robots that are able to build, inspect and repair structures in microgravity will enable the possibility of building large structures without the need of human EVA (extra-vehicular activity). This will benefit future NASA and commercial missions to create infrastructure in space. Future Customers MOJO will assist and enable the automated assembly of large space structures, for NASA scientific missions as well as deep-space habitats and exploration platforms. Specifically, MOJO can perform autonomous structural health monitoring and inspection of large space structures

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — 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.

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