Kean Researcher Wins NASA Grant for Rover AI Tech
The two-year project aims to develop autonomous navigation systems for future lunar and Martian rovers.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Robotics
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Kean University researcher Moitrayee Chatterjee has secured a nearly $900,000 NASA grant to develop autonomous rover navigation systems. This research-stage project aims to enhance terrain assessment and hazard avoidance for future planetary exploration.
Why it matters
Autonomous navigation is essential for lunar and Martian exploration, where communication delays make remote driving impractical. By integrating terrain-interaction forces with visual data, this project seeks to improve rover safety on complex, unknown surfaces.
The project involves training AI models using a synthesis of visual sensor data and mechanical terrain-interaction forces. This dual-input method is designed to help autonomous systems adapt to surface conditions while navigating hazards.
The players
Moitrayee Chatterjee
Lead researcher at Kean University specializing in AI and autonomous systems.
NASA
The U.S. federal agency responsible for space exploration, aeronautics research, and planetary science missions.
Kean University
A public research university in Union hosting the funded research team and student fellows.
Goddard Space Flight Center
A major NASA laboratory focusing on Earth science, astrophysics, and planetary mission technology development.
The details
The research focuses on creating navigation systems that process real-time surface feedback. By combining visual imaging with force-torque sensing—data measuring the physical pressure applied by rover wheels against the ground—the system aims to predict terrain stability. This approach moves beyond purely visual navigation, allowing rovers to adjust their path based on the physical properties of the soil or rock beneath them.
Timeline
October 21, 2026: Announcement of the research grant.
Two-year period: Duration of the NASA research grant.
The Tech Race
This project contributes to the broader objective of achieving fully autonomous planetary navigation for the Artemis program. It aligns with ongoing efforts across NASA and the private sector to reduce human oversight in rover operations on the moon and Mars.
This grant provides research stipends, internships, and conference access for four students at Kean University. These educational opportunities will focus on developing software and machine learning frameworks for space-grade autonomous vehicles.
The takeaway
The project focuses on building rovers that can navigate autonomously by interpreting physical resistance and visual cues. Observers should track subsequent progress reports from the Goddard Space Flight Center to see how these models perform in terrain-simulation benchmarks.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Robotics and autonomous systems.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NJBIZ.
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