NASA Develops Autonomous Navigation Technology for Lunar Rovers

NASA’s Ames Research Center is leading High-speed Intelligent Robust Autonomous Terrain Exploration (HI-RATE), a navigation technology development effort intended to help lunar rovers travel farther and faster while relying less on crew or remote operators. The project sits within NASA’s Autonomous Systems and Robotics technology area and is the responsibility of the Research and Technology Mission Directorate. Principal Investigator Matthew Deans leads the work. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Johnson Space Center also contribute, making HI-RATE a multi-center effort rather than a standalone Ames activity.

HI-RATE addresses a mission challenge with direct implications for lunar surface operations: vehicles must cover longer distances and operate with less human supervision, including during uncrewed periods and in challenging lighting conditions. Navigation software helps a rover establish its location, recognize hazards, plan routes, and control movement. By increasing onboard autonomy, NASA aims to reduce the frequency of operator input and give surface vehicles more time for science and exploration. The project builds on NASA’s planetary rover experience, advances in lidar, High-Performance Space Computing, and terrestrial self-driving systems.

The technical approach 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 is integrating and testing capabilities on existing robotic platforms using simulation, rover test facilities, and planetary analog field sites. HI-RATE is also developing a reference architecture: a reusable design for integrating navigation software, sensors, and computing across different mobility platforms. This architecture could be relevant to suppliers and integrators whose products can support interoperable, flight-relevant autonomy systems, although the source does not specify a procurement pathway or vendor requirements.

Potential applications include autonomous travel between exploration sites, relocation of surface assets, and precise driving near lunar base infrastructure. NASA identifies lunar terrain vehicles, pressurized rovers, logistics vehicles, and long-range robotic science missions as possible beneficiaries. The project coordinates with related NASA sensing and computing efforts, including LIDAR LAUNCHER and High Performance Spaceflight Computing (HPSC). For contractors, these connections indicate areas to monitor for future technology integration or development needs; they do not establish an open opportunity. The available signal identifies planned resources spanning FY2025–FY2028 but provides no funding value, solicitation, contract award, or procurement contact, so companies should treat HI-RATE as technology and market intelligence rather than an active bid notice.

• NASA Ames Research Center leads HI-RATE; NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Johnson Space Center contribute.
• The effort combines lidar and other navigation sensors with high-performance space computing.
• Core functions include rover positioning, terrain assessment, obstacle detection, and route planning and following.
• Testing uses existing robotic platforms, simulation, rover test facilities, and planetary analog field sites.
• HI-RATE is developing a reusable reference architecture for integrating navigation software, sensors, and computing across mobility platforms.
• Potential applications include lunar terrain vehicles, pressurized rovers, logistics vehicles, asset relocation, and long-range robotic science missions.
• Related NASA efforts include LIDAR LAUNCHER and High Performance Spaceflight Computing (HPSC).
• The signal identifies planned resources across FY2025–FY2028, but gives no funding amount, solicitation, award, or procurement contact.
• Relevant industry capabilities include autonomous systems, robotics, lidar and sensing, navigation software, and space computing; no open procurement opportunity is established.