Embedded Files
The Challenge
For NASA’s Centennial Challenge, the goal was to design a habitat for deep space exploration that could be built autonomously on Mars using local materials. The complexity lay in orchestrating a mobile printer module to harvest materials, print the structure, and place pre-assembled components without human guidance.
The Engineering
As part of Team Zopherus, I helped develop the "print-and-assembly" algorithm. This software logic dictated the precise sequence of operations, managing the trade-off between material extrusion and the pick-and-place movements of the robotic arm. We validated the algorithm through Python simulations in Blender and small-scale physical tests using multi-material printers.
The Team Zopherus habitat concept, which secured 2nd place in NASA's Centennial Challenge.
The Impact
Our algorithm was successfully validated, contributing to Team Zopherus winning 2nd place in Phase 3 of the competition (taking home part of the $2M prize purse). The project demonstrated a viable path for autonomous construction in extraterrestrial environments.
The final competition entry demonstrating the validated "print-and-assembly" autonomous construction algorithm.
Google Sites
Report abuse