LunarANT: A Modular Platform For Robotic Research On The Lunar Surface

As humanity looks towards a sustainable return to the Moon, new opportunities are presented for future robotic research under low-gravity conditions. The Lunar Autonomous Network of roboTs (LunarANTs) is a modular rover platform aimed at performing lunar robotics research on the Moon’s surface. This platform would be capable of demonstrating emerging hardware and software payloads, which will be crucial in the development of future lunar habitats like the Artemis Base Camp. This paper outlines the system architecture of a collaborative multi-agent swarm of LunarANTs, rover design, power and cost constraints, and validation of payload performance at the NASA Ames Research Center’s Roverscape Robotics Research Facility. Each LunarANT will have at minimum, instruments for vision-based needs and will have an adaptable top payload bay for additional payloads or guest science to be attached. LunarANTs are a step towards modular space exploration, a key component necessary to expanding humanities presence beyond low-earth orbit.