Towards autonomous lunar navigation for in-situ resource utilization

Cox, Joshua

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132591 Copy

Description

Title

Towards autonomous lunar navigation for in-situ resource utilization

Author(s)

Cox, Joshua

Issue Date

2025-12-08

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

• Driggs-Campbell, Katherine
• Yim, Justin

Department of Study

Mechanical Sci & Engineering

Discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• in-situ resource utilization
• isru
• robotics
• rover
• navigation
• path planning
• localization
• mapping
• lunar rover
• ISRU Pilot Excavator
• IPEx
• Lunar Autonomy Challenge
• exploration robotics
• lunar mapping

Abstract

Work from the student team Illinois Kingfishers participating in the Lunar Autonomy Challenge (LAC) is presented. The team was formed by students in the Human-Centered Autonomy Lab (HCAL) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Teams in the LAC created an autonomous system to guide a lunar mining robot and map the Moon’s surface elevation. It was performed entirely on software in a custom simulator. This thesis provides a background on the competition, Illinois Kingfisher’s work during it, and further researching after the event ended. The team explored much about integrating robotic systems, computer vision algorithms, and localization methods.

Graduation Semester

2025-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132591

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2025 Joshua Cox

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