NASA challenges students to design robots for moon exploration

NASA is looking for young engineers from the United States to design a lunar exploration robot for the Lunabotics Junior competition. The competition, a collaboration with Future Engineers, asks students to design a robot that will excavate and transfer lunar soil, called Regolith, from an area at the Moon’s south pole to a container near an area used by Artemis astronauts that could explore in the future.

To participate in the competition, students will have to submit their proposals, which must include a photo of the robot design and A written summary that explains how the design is designed to work on the moonbefore January 25, 2022.

“Extracting resources in deep space requires innovation and creativity, and students are some of the most creative thinkers,” said Mike Kinkade, NASA associate administrator for the Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Sharing. “The next generation is always bringing new perspectives, creative ideas, and a sense of optimism to the challenges posed by NASA.. I really want to see the designs they send to Lunabotics Junior,” says Kincaid.

for students They were not asked to build a robot, they are only required to devise a design no larger than 1 meter by 0.6 meters by 0.6 meters and addresses three main design features: how the robot’s physical design will allow for the collection, excavation and transportation of lunar regolith, and whether the robot will work by moving large amounts of lunar soil each Flight or transport smaller quantities on more flights, and how the design and operation of the robot will deal with the huge challenge of moon dust that comes out and can “stick” to surfaces when the lunar regolith moves.

Students can register individually or teachers can register the whole class. Entries will be divided into two categories (grades K-5 and grades 6-12) to be evaluated. a) yes, 10 semi-finalists will receive a Lunabotics Junior Prize Package Four national finalists from each category will win a virtual session with a NASA subject matter expert. The national winner from each category will be announced on March 29, 2022 and will receive a virtual chat for their class with Kennedy Space Center Director, Janet Petro.