NASA 2022 Big Idea Challenge

December 2021–January 2022

The Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-changing (BIG) Idea Challenge is an initiative supporting NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Game Changing Development Program’s efforts to rapidly mature innovative and high-impact capabilities and technologies for infusion in a broad array of future NASA missions.

The 2022 BIG Idea Challenge provided undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to design, develop, and demonstrate robotic systems with alternative rover locomotion modalities for use in off-world extreme lunar terrain applications. Teams were invited to submit proposals for robots with new mobility solutions in operating scenarios that require access to extreme terrain categories, such as, but not limited to:

  • Fluffy/high-porosity regolith expected at the lunar poles
  • Steep, rugged slopes (state of the art for a wheeled rover is ~30 degrees)
  • Uneven terrain with possible ice content at the bottom of deep-shadowed craters
  • Subterranean features, such as caves, lava tubes, and pits

Proposed Project

CAMEE supported a UTSA student team with their proposed project submission. Drs. Kiran Bhaganagar and Alan Whittington acted as faculty advisors. Colin Johnson was the student team leader.

Exploring the Inner Lava Tubes: HERMIT, the Capable Crustacean Creation
(HERMIT stands for High-definition Exploration of Regolith and Moon Imaging Technology)

Understanding and exploring the geological environment on the Moon is critical to the development of lunar infrastructure. The team proposed a lunar rover for exploration in harsh lunar conditions, focusing on the challenges posed by rough terrain in lava tubes. The novel design implemented on the rover included robotic systems and radars to improve maneuverability over rugged terrain. With the novel technological design, the proposed lunar rover was expected to further the exploration of the Moon.

Objectives and Technical Approach

The overall objective of HERMIT is to provide a novel solution to movement that can carry heavy payloads. The rover is designed to specialize in lava tube exploration. It uses six triple-jointed legs and two high range of motion front claws, inspired by decorator crabs. The HERMIT uses an anchor and tether system to descend skylight entrances to lava tubes.

Video Proposal Submission to the 2022 NASA Big Idea Challenge

The proposed project was not selected for funding.

UTSA Team

Laura Barnes (Computer Science)
Kalea Bridgemohan (Biology)
Aubrey Fuchs (Mechanical Engineering)
Sydney Grona (Interdisciplinary Studies)
Colin Johnson (Mathematics)
Joshua Le (Computer Science)
Parker Leathers (Computer Science)
Jose Malagon Rosas (Mechanical Engineering)
Marcela Montufar Soria (History)
Kane Sandoval (Environmental Science)
Gerardo Silva Carmona (Electrical Engineering)
Ranbir Singh (Electrical Engineering)
Mariana Suarez-Martinez (Biology)
Eberardo Trejo (Mechanical Engineering)


team supported by the CAMEE

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