Robotic Systems Development

LEARNER

The Long-rangE Autonomous Rover for plaNetary Exploration (LEARNER) project, led by Prof. Genova and the SPRING lab, is developed through a temporary consortium of enterprises comprising Sapienza University, Next Ingegneria dei Sistemi, and Spark. The project aims to design a medium-sized rover prototype with advanced mobility and high autonomy for planetary exploration. Activities include system requirement definition, component testing, and final prototype validation in planetary analog environments, targeting a TRL of 5/6.

ARISE

The ARtificial Intelligence for Space Exploration (ARISE) project, funded by the Italian Space Agency and led by Next Ingegneria dei Sistemi with SPRING as a subcontractor, aims to develop a semi-autonomous Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystem for orbiting and surface space probes. The system integrates AI and Computer Vision algorithms to enhance autonomy, enabling precise localization and activity planning.

Pre-labeled image not included in the training, validation, and testing dataset.

Results of the AI CV algorithm prototype.

NIM

Funded by the Italian Space Agency, the Navigation for Interplanetary Microsatellites (NIM) project, led by Progetti Speciali Italiani Srl with SPRING as subcontractor, develops AOCS software for interplanetary microsatellites. It enables precise attitude control for antenna and altimeter alignment and autonomous orbit determination using radio and altimetric data. The project integrates attitude and orbit determination systems, with testing and validation on a breadboard, achieving a TRL 4 navigation system.

Rover Hopper GNC

As part of a project led by OHB-Italia, with SPRING as a subcontractor, the development of a GNC system for a lunar hopper focuses on enabling the exploration of multiple sites of scientific and human interest. The GNC subsystem is designed to meet stringent engineering requirements for flight mobility. The system integrates high-fidelity models of dynamics, forces, and torques to ensure accurate trajectory and attitude predictions.

Autonomous Rover Vehicles for Civil Applications

Supporting Spark, funded under the ESA-ASI Business Incubation Centre (BIC) Lazio program, SPRING is contributing to the development of autonomous rover vehicles for civil applications. Spark leads the initiative, focusing on integrating advanced artificial intelligence algorithms for exploration and mapping, while SPRING brings its expertise in rover design and autonomous navigation systems. These compact rovers are tailored to navigate environments inaccessible to humans, such as underground archaeological sites, delivering real-time, high-quality 3D representations. This collaboration addresses a distinct market need, offering a versatile and innovative solution for different applications.

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