The School of Computer Science:
A Legacy of Research, Exploration and Implementation in Space
Kevin O’Connell
From establishing the Field Robotics Center to student-designed robots exploring the Moon (and beyond)the School of Computer Science has played an integral and increasing role in space exploration and advancement these past 40 years.
While computing, robotics and many other technologies have been developed by SCS students, faculty and researchers, they represent only part of the story. “SCS in Space” might more accurately be labeled “CMU in Space,” or “CMU and our partners — regional, national and international — consisting of government agencies, corporations and the brightest universities,” all coming together to reach for the stars. No one accomplishes the projects in these pages single-handedly.
Just as daunting as the task of capturing the breadth of SCS’ contributions made to modern space exploration, these pages can never fully catalog the depth of research, scholarship and influence as they pertain to current efforts. The topic is too broad, with contributions and partnerships across the university — many of which live outside of SCS entirely.
Still, it remains important that we acknowledge the parts we have played in this great journey up to this historic point, and those we will play in the years to come. At its core, SCS’ role accurately reflects the best of CMU generally: a thirst to know more and do what it takes to get the job done; the recognition of value on partnerships and building the best teams with multidimensional, multidisciplinary members; and, guiding those teams toward innovative thinking and problem solving.
Astrobotic, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, will develop Cuberovers, a new class of small, lightweight rovers capable of exploration and science missions for NASA. Image courtesy of Astrobotic Technology.
Leadership in the CMU-Led Approach to Space Exploration
Space travel remains expensive. At times, prohibitively so. Today, individual billionaires fund their own space programs. While we can debate the merits of this approach, leadership at CMU remains focused on partnerships across the academic, government and corporate sectors to achieve optimal results. The best minds, the best funding and the best scientists and engineers all working together toward commonly outlined and mutually beneficial goals.
CMU President Farnam Jahanian is a national leader in advocating for and leveraging federal funding in science and innovation to address national priorities, expand our knowledge of the world and enhance U.S. competitiveness. Jahanian addressed the House Science, Space and Technology Committee on April 15, 2021, about our nation’s innovation ecosystem. Be sure to read the full record of Jahanian’s remarks before congress and the entirety of his “Reimagining Our Innovation Future” testimony.
“As unprecedented advances drive societal and economic transformation, the United States must double down on our national investments in research and innovation to secure our global competitiveness and address complex societal challenges. This includes continued support of our nation’s space programs, where interdisciplinary partnerships can seed ideas and innovations that not only push the boundaries of discovery, but also catalyze economic growth and job creation.”
1971
Edgar Mitchell (ENG 1952) – Becomes one of 12 astronauts to walk on the surface of the Moon.
1984
Judith Resnik (ENG 1970) – engineer and mission specialist on the space shuttle Discovery. The second woman and first Jewish-American in space, Resnik perished when Challenger Exploded in 1986.
1990
Ambler - A walking robot developed as a testbed for research in walking robots operating in rugged terrain.
1991
Jerome Apt made two spacewalks while aboard space shuttle Atlantis followed by missions aboard space shuttle Endeavor before Joining the faculty at CMU.
1994
Dante II - A tethered walking robot for science missions in active volcanoes, explored Alaska’s Mt. Spurr volcano.
1994
Ratler - Prototype rover built to demonstrate technologies that could enable robotic lunar missions.
Andy 2 - Built for the Google Lunar XPrize challenge, mobility tests were conducted at NASA Glenn Research Center on simulated lunar sand.
The Evolving Landscape of Discovery
The Apollo 17 mission in 1972 marks the last time humans stepped foot on the Moon. Originally, 20 Apollo missions had been planned, but funding cuts for NASA forced cancellation of the final three missions. Additionally, the goal of being the first to put a human on the Moon, the original “Space Race,” had been achieved.
While studying the Moon with intent of future human missions has always been NASA’s goal, SCS, with its long history of field robotics, became the perfect partner for this next phase of exploration — space exploration via robotics. As RI research professor David Wettergreen explained, this became CMU’s moment to excel.
Wettergreen pointed to many of the technologies and landmarks noted in the timeline of SCS-inspired work in partnership with NASA, such as long-distance navigation, sun-synchronous routes and lunar ice and pit exploration, as examples of the great impact that SCS has contributed to get the National space program to where it is today.
These past and current contributions have cemented SCS’ legacy as a partner in all facets of future space exploration missions. One of SCS’ largest contributions going forward comes from our thought leadership in world-changing theoretical work, exemplified by Wettergreen, in the application of automated science for planetary exploration. (Read the full story on automated science in this issue.)
“Our legacy in space will be for innovation in robotics. Since our first work in the 1990s we have sought to create novel, effective robot designs, to advance functional autonomy in exploration and to envision missions made possible by our technologies.”
1997
Nomad - Built for autonomous exploration of planet-like deserts; pioneered spherical vision and long-range navigation.
2000
Ames Research Center's NASA Research Park / CMU Silicon Valley collaboration formed, a partnership to develop new applied information technology.
2001
Skyworker - An assembly, inspection and maintenance robot for orbital structures.
2001
Hyperion: Sun-Synch - A solar powered rover that proved the concept of Sun-Synchronous navigation in the Canadian high Arctic.
2002
High-Dependability Computing Consortium (HDCC) partnership developed to improve NASA’s capability to create dependable software.
Exploration Rovers
The Iris and MoonRanger missions feature students working alongside faculty in developing the robotic moon rovers — as well as staffing the missions — all culminating from decades of building prototypes and testing each through phases of mobility, autonomy and functionality.
The builders of the AI, computer vision and lunar landing guidance systems are involved at every level, from conceptualization of sending astronauts to space and housing them on the Moon to exploring distant planets and returning astronauts safely home.
Perhaps most impressively, our students will command these missions from a Mission Control Center located on campus in the Gates Center for Computer Science. These achievements deserve recognition and laudation.
Often, it’s the theoretical work, or the precursory research that is easiest to overlook. That which is perhaps not as easy to visualize is no less important. Networking, software engineering, AI and security in communications come to mind as examples of such mission critical technologies on which our legacy has been built. According to Martial Hebert, dean of SCS, that work is the foundation on which all our current efforts stand.
“We should think of our body of work a little bit differently than pointing to a specific piece of software or a specific algorithm. It’s actually the complete vision of AI and robotics in space that has been instrumental in pushing all efforts forward.”
2004
Zoe - Equipped with specialized sensors to search for life, its solar cells collect energy and plan accordingly to maximize science returns.
2006
Trestle - Developed the architectural framework necessary to coordinate multiple robots performing complex assembly projects.
2007
Scarab - A prototype rover for lunar polar exploration, it adjusts body posture for ascent and descent of craters and to position core soil drilling.
2007
Astrobotic Technology – Founded by Red Whittaker andassociates with the goal of winning the Google Lunar XPrize, the company’s Peregrine lunar lander is scheduled to reach the Moon in 2024.
2007
Red Rover - The shape of this Moon rover moderates extreme lunar temperatures while gathering sun power and rejecting heat.
2012
Mars Rover Driver – Vandi Verma (SCS 2005) drives her first rover Curiosity on the surface of Mars. Varma has driven four Mars rovers to date (2022). Read an update on the Mars Rover and the Mars 2020 mission in this issue.
The Future
(Left) CMU trustee Glen DE VRIES (MCS 1994) travels to space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft along with actor William Shatner (second from right) and others.
Among the many goals and targeted scientific opportunities of the U.S. Space Program, returning humans to the Moon has reemerged. Much of the scientific research that SCS robots like Iris and MoonRanger will carry out in the upcoming mission have that same goal in mind. Not only for a few days at a time, as was all that was possible for the Apollo missions, but to sustain life on lunar bases and offer communication and networking with lunar satellites, enabling further exploration and research opportunities — to worlds beyond and for the improvement of life on our own planet.
SCS, along with our partners across CMU and the greater academic, corporate and government agencies, intend to remain integral parts of these missions going forward. William “Red” Whittaker, who has been a major contributor to every aspect of this work, gave what will be the final word (for now) about how history will view the contributions and legacy of SCS in space. ■
“In time, CMU will be seen as the premier planetary space robotics community. Yes, it will be the great missions. Of course, the technology that always marches along, particularly the people that made it great for decades — that pioneered it, the people who are giving of themselves to do these great things now and for generations to come.”
2021
CMU and Astrobotic, along with their partners, form the Keystone Space Collaborative to support regional business and technology expansion in space-related opportunities.
2021
Lander Visual System (LVS) - Andrew Johnson’s (SCS 1997) work on LVS safely lands the Perseverance Rover on the surface of Mars.
2022
Moonshot Museum opens in Pittsburgh’s Northside Neighborhood to educate and spur innovation in space technology.
2023
Iris - Designed by CMU students, the cube rover adaptation has passed its critical design review by NASA and is on track to land on the Moon.
2023
Moonranger – The suitcase-sized rover developed by CMU and Astrobotic in collaboration with NASA’s Ames Research Center, to search for signs of water at the Moon’s south pole.
2024
Griffin Lander – Astrobotic’s lunar lander selected by NASA to deliver their VIPER rover, which will investigate permanently shadowed craters on the Moon in search of water.