NASA has appointed Stanford’s University of California’s Lunar Autonomous Challenge champion, a six-month competition for teams of American college and university students to map and explore on NASA’s field resource utilization pilot excavator (IPEX).

The winning team successfully demonstrates the design and functionality of its autonomous agent, or software that performs specified actions without human intervention. Their agents independently browse IPEX digital twins in a virtual lunar environment while accurately mapping the surface, correctly identifying obstacles and effectively managing available power.

Dai added: “It has prompted us to find a strong solution to the harsh conditions on the moon’s surface. I have learned a lot in the challenges, whether it’s about the challenges of new ideas and approaches, as well as deepening the understanding of the core approaches throughout the autonomous stack (perception, localization, mapping, mapping, planning). I also really like the efforts of my team and strategies to form different strategies and strategies.

This challenge provides 31 teams with valuable opportunities to gain experience in software development, autonomy and machine learning using cutting-edge NASA lunar technology. Participants also applied the necessary skills in almost all engineering disciplines, including technical writing, collaborative teamwork and project management.

The LUNAR Autonomous Challenge supports NASA's Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII), a program that is part of the Space Technology Agency. LSII aims to accelerate technology development and pursue results to work with industry, academia and other government agencies to provide the infrastructure for lunar exploration.

“To be successful, we need everyone’s opinions – every idea can move our goals forward. It is very rewarding to see these students and software developers contribute their skills to future missions on the moon and Mars,” Werkheiser added.

Through the Lunar Autonomy Challenge, NASA collaborated with Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Caterpillar Inc. and embodies AI. Each team contributes unique expertise and the necessary tools to make the challenge successful.

NASA is challenged by the Applied Physics Laboratory. As LSII systems integrators, they provide expertise to simplify stringent and engineering discipline, ensuring the development of successful, efficient and cost-effective tasks, and are supported by the world's largest lunar scientists.

Caterpillar Inc. is known for its construction and excavation equipment and operates a large number of automatic tow trucks. They have also worked with NASA for more than 20 years in a variety of technologies, including autonomy, 3D printing, robotics and simulators, as they continue to work with NASA on technologies that support NASA mission goals and provide value to the mining and construction industries.

The embodied AI works with Caterpillar to integrate simulations into open source driving environments for challenges. For the Lunar Autonomy Challenge, the usual digital assets of the Carla simulation platform, such as urban layouts, buildings and vehicles, were replaced by IPEX "Digital Twin" and Lunar environmental models.

"This collaboration is a great example of how governments, large corporations, small businesses and research institutions can think about their different but complementary strengths," Werkheiser added. "By essentially modernizing existing tools, we can turn today's new technologies into tomorrow's institutional capabilities to improve efficient and effective space exploration, while also stimulating innovation and economic growth on Earth."

Finalists

first place
Nav Lab Team
Stanford University, Stanford University, California

runner up
Maple (MIT Autonomous Exploration Son Exploration) Team
Massachusetts Polytechnic Institute of Cambridge, Massachusetts

Third place
Moonlight Team
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Other competitive teams

Moon explorer	Arizona State University	Tempe, Arizona
aiwvu	West Virginia University	Morgantown, West Virginia
Star sparks	California Institute of Technology Pomona	Pomona, California
Lunatix	Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering	Baltimore
Kara CSU	California State University, Stanislaus	Turlock, California
Rose-Hulman	Ross Holman Technical College	Indiana Heights
Moon Scouter	Public University System in the United States	Charles Town, West Virginia