MINE

NASA Lunabotics Competition

NASA's Lunabotics Challenge allows university students to design and build robotic systems inspired by the challenges of lunar surface construction. The Astro-Huskies develop a prototype lunar construction rover that excavates regolith simulant, transports it through an obstacle-filled environment, and deposits the material to construct berms.

Competition performance challenges the team to balance material handling capacity, rover mass, energy consumption, cycle time, communications bandwidth, autonomy, reliability, and safety. These constraints require the team's mechanical, electrical, and software systems to function as one integrated system.

Annually, NASA's competition guidebook is released with updates to competition specifics and the "focus" they want teams to prioritize pre-competition.

Astro Huskies

The Michigan Tech Astro-Huskies are a multidisciplinary student team that designs, manufactures, programs, and tests a prototype lunar construction rover for NASA's yearly Lunabotics competition. Students ranging across all engineering disciplines work together to develop a rover capable of excavating, transporting, and depositing lunar regolith through autonomous means.

This competition utilizes NASA's system engineering process commonly found in industry and as a baseline for teams to work to. Each year, the team develops system requirements, design concepts/downselection, formal internal design reviews, NASA control gates before competition, and the complete fabrication/operation of said rover during competition.

The Astro-Huskies must determine optimal methods for a wide range of rover systems such as material capacity, energy usage, autonomy, and several others.

Competition Categories
Gravel Mined
Average Data Bandwidth Use
Camera Bandwidth Use
Mining Robot Mass
Energy Consumed
Dust Tolerant Design
Dust Free Operation
Autonomy
Competition Specifics
Maximum length of the robot is 1.1 meters with a width of 0.6 meters, and a height of 0.6 meters. The robot can weigh no more than 80kg. The robot must be able to run for at least 5 minutes before it enters the arena, and for 15 minutes while the trial is going on. The robot must also end operation immediately when a poweroff command is sent and be outfitted with a “kill switch”. The team will obtain a large amount of points if the robot can run with complete autonomy.

Drivetrain & Mobility (DAM)

The Drivetrain & Mobility team designs the systems that allow the rover to maneuver through the competition space, which includes loose regolith, craters, rocks, and other obstacles to simulate a lunar environment. DAM is responsible for the wheels, drivetrain, steering systems, and ensuring these systems adhere to other rover constraints.

An optimal system should have balancing traction, the ability to switch drive modes, and a turning radius that allows the rover to reposition out of "bad spots."

Electrical Team (EEL)

The electrical team develops the embedded electronics, safety systems, power distribution, and ensures each subteam's electronics are working cohesively. Members integrate motor controllers, sensors, batteries, and a wide range of electrical hardware.

Since the mechanical and software subsystems are dependent on the electrical setup, it is EEL's responsibility to work closely with each subteam to ensure components receive their intended metrics. Electrical designs made by EEL prioritize robust modularity, serviceability, and safety to ensure components can be quickly diagnosed and, if needed, repaired during testing or competition.

Excavation (EXC)

The EXC subteam designs, manufactures, and tests the system responsible for collecting lunar regolith simulant. The current system uses a front-loading bucket mounted to an actuated four-bar linkage, allowing the rover to dig into the competition regolith and transfer collected material into its hopper.

Members gain hands-on experience with CAD, engineering analysis, finite element analysis, machining, and mechanical assembly while developing components capable of withstanding demanding excavation loads. Many components are manufactured in-house using CNC machines, mills, and lathes before the completed subsystem is integrated with the rover's mobility, electrical, and controls systems. The final system is tested for excavation performance, range of motion, cycle time, and reliability in simulated lunar terrain.

Hopper & Deposition (HAD)

The HAD subteam designs, manufactures, and tests the system responsible for receiving, storing, and depositing lunar regolith simulant. The current design uses a center-driven belt to transport material through the hopper and deposit it into the competition construction zone.

Members gain experience with CAD, finite element analysis, machining, 3D printing, manufacturing, and mechanical assembly while developing the hopper structure, belt drive, rollers, tensioning system, and material-containment components. The subsystem is integrated closely with the rover's excavation, electrical, and structural systems and is tested for regolith capacity, deposition speed, durability, energy use, and overall material-handling performance.

Rover Autonomy & Network (RAN)

The RAN subteam develops the software, sensing, controls, and communication systems that enable the rover to operate autonomously and under remote control. RAN integrates sensor data with the rover's mechanical and electrical systems to support excavation, navigation, and material deposition while providing operators with telemetry and control through mission control.

Members gain hands-on experience with embedded computing, sensor integration, control systems, autonomous robotics, networking, and software development. The subteam works closely with every rover subsystem to develop control logic, safety limits, and autonomous behaviors, while testing sensing performance and communication bandwidth to ensure reliable operation in the competition environment.

Structures (STR)

The STR subteam designs, manufactures, and tests the structural framework that supports and connects the rover's mechanical and electrical systems. Structures works closely with each subteam to develop mounting locations and mechanical interfaces for the drivetrain, excavation system, hopper, electrical equipment, and other rover components while balancing strength, mass, packaging, and subsystem clearance.

Members gain hands-on experience with CAD, structural analysis, finite element analysis, engineering drawings, CNC machining, welding, riveting, and mechanical assembly. The frame is designed to withstand loads generated during traversal, steering, excavation, and regolith transport while minimizing deformation that could interfere with other rover systems. The completed structure is manufactured primarily from aluminum and verified through engineering analysis and physical testing before supporting final rover integration.

Systems Engineering Team (SE)

The SE team is led by the Lead System Engineer (LSE) to help manage each subteam/engineering discipline in the systems engineering process. An SE is a supportive technical role that interfaces with their respective LED (subteam lead) responsible for maintaining and following the systems engineering processes. SE's also act as the liaison between subsystems to ensure proper communication and rover integration is present. The LSE is also the primary approver of technical decisions involving the rover and internal reviews/NASA control gates.

Team Leads (LED)

The LED team is managed by Enterprise management to allocate members into specific teams based on interest, experience, and engineering disciplines. Each LED is responsible for their respective team and subsystem. They direct their members using project management tools, create/distribute tasks, and, most importantly, keep the team on pace to meet internal reviews & NASA control gates. LED's interface with their assigned SE to ensure both the technical and project side of their team is working cohesively.

Updated: September 6, 2026