Evaluating Legged Mobility for Lunar Surface Exploration
Engineering, IT, Mathematics and Statistics
PLEASE NOTE
- Due to the sensitivity and security of this project, students must have Australian Citizenship or Permanent Residency to apply.
- This research internship is funded in partnership with Space Research Network (SRN). Students from any New South Wales University and ANU are eligible to apply (excluding University of New England, Southern Cross University and Charles Sturt University).
ABOUT THE INDUSTRY PARTNER
Crest Robotics is an Australian startup aiming to drive work place injury to zero through innovative and practical robotic tools that reduce the cost, burdens, and risk associated with heavy industrial labour. The company was founded in 2023, currently has 6 employees, and is based at Australia’s Largest deeptech incubator, Cicada Innovations, in Eveleigh. Last year Crest launched Charlotte a world-first hexapod robot intended eventually for lunar surface operations including insitu resource utilization and construction. Crest has signed partnerships with several CLPS providers including Intuitive Machines, ispace, HDR, Hassell, and Branch Technologies, and is positioning itself as a designer and provider of space-based autonomous exploration and construction technologies.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Opportunity to get experience in a fast-paced and cutting edge robotics startup deploying real projects for industrial clients, and pursuing exciting and pressing technologies for exploration and eventual habitation of our solar system. You will work along side Dr. Clyde Webster and Dr. Felix Kong to answer questions in robotic mobility at the very forefront of exploration.
RESEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED
The student will undertake a study to compare the performance of legged vs wheeled rover for lunar surface mobility. This will be done in simulation using available lunar terrain soil mechanics models, and fast dynamic solvers. You will work with the Crest team to deploy dynamic control and traction management strategies to evaluate their effect on the energy efficiency of mobility. Building off Dr. Webster’s previous work in lunar surface mobility, we will extend the trade to include a legged platform and a walking gait.
SKILLS WISH LIST
If you’re a postgraduate research student and meet some or all the below we want to hear from you. We strongly encourage women, indigenous and disadvantaged candidates to apply:
- Experience with robotic simulation experience.
- Understanding of robotics concepts including kinematics, modeling of rigid body dynamics, understanding of the inverse dynamics and control problem.
- Understanding nuances of dynamic engines (solvers), especially contact modelling.
RESEARCH OUTCOMES
We will publish together the output of this study, and the content will be available to make up a chapter of the candidate PhD thesis if they desire and consider it relevant. Further opportunities to collaborate with NASA, JAXA, ispace and other international space partners may become available as a result of the work.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
The intern will receive $3,300 per month of the internship, usually in the form of scholarship payments.
It is expected that the intern will primarily undertake this research project during regular business hours and maintain contact with their academic mentor throughout the internship either through face-to-face or phone meetings as appropriate.
The intern and their academic mentor will have the opportunity to negotiate the project’s scope, milestones and timeline during the project planning stage.
Please note, applications are reviewed regularly and this internship may be filled prior to the advertised closing date if a suitable applicant is identified. Early submissions are encouraged.
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