High-speed Intelligent Robust Autonomous Terrain Exploration
NASA Science ·
Why is navigation software so important for surface exploration? Navigation software enables a rover to determine its location, detect hazards, plan routes, and control its movement. Greater onboard autonomy can reduce the need for frequent operator input, helping surface vehicles travel farther and devote more mission time to science and exploration. Why is HI-RATE the […] The post High-speed Intelligent Robust Autonomous Terrain Exploration appeared first on NASA Science .
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High-speed Intelligent Robust Autonomous Terrain Exploration (HI-RATE) navigation software uses advanced perception sensors and high-performance space computing so rovers can drive farther and faster with less reliance on crew.
technology area Autonomous Systems and Robotics
Research and Technology Mission Directorate
Ames Research Center
Matthew Deans
Navigation software enables a rover to determine its location, detect hazards, plan routes, and control its movement. Greater onboard autonomy can reduce the need for frequent operator input, helping surface vehicles travel farther and devote more mission time to science and exploration.
Future lunar missions require vehicles to cover longer distances and operate with less human supervision, including during uncrewed periods and challenging lighting conditions. HI-RATE addresses these needs by integrating autonomous navigation algorithms with flight-relevant sensors and computing.
The project builds on NASA’s planetary rover experience, recent advances in LIDAR sensor technology, High-Performance Space Computing, and terrestrial self-driving systems. HI-RATE will focus on the integrated navigation capability that is possible when these technologies come together.
HI-RATE combines lidar and other navigation sensors with high-performance computing to estimate rover position, assess terrain, detect obstacles, and plan and follow routes. The team integrates and tests these capabilities on existing robotic platforms using simulation, rover test facilities, and planetary analog field sites.
The project is developing a reference architecture, a reusable design for integrating navigation software, sensors, and computing across different mobility platforms.
HI-RATE could enable autonomous travel between exploration sites, relocation of surface assets, and precise driving near lunar base infrastructure. Potential applications include lunar terrain vehicles, pressurized rovers, logistics vehicles, and long-range robotic science missions. By reducing operator workload and increasing productive travel, the technology could help NASA and commercial providers accomplish more within available mission time and resources.
NASA’s Ames Research Center leads HI-RATE, with contributions from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Johnson Space Center. The team coordinates with related NASA sensing and computing efforts, including LIDAR LAUNCHER and High Performance Spaceflight Computing (HPSC) . HI-RATE is a NASA-led technology development within the Advanced Research and Technology Division of the Research Technology Mission Directorate with planned resources across FY2025–FY2028.
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