PickNik Robotics Wins NASA SBIR Phase II Award for Pioneering Lunar Robotics Program

Boulder, CO — PickNik Robotics, a leader in advanced robotics software, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by NASA Johnson Space Center. The project, titled “Dexterous Whole-Body Manipulation for Robotic Lunar Operations,” aims to enhance robotic capabilities for future lunar missions under NASA’s Artemis program.

This innovative program will focus on developing advanced robotic manipulation to aid in various lunar surface tasks such as habitat construction, cargo logistics, and scientific experimentation. By integrating multi-armed mobile systems and improving autonomous planning libraries, PickNik Robotics plans to revolutionize how robots operate in space, emphasizing safety and reliability in harsh lunar environments.

Dave Coleman, CEO of PickNik Robotics, expressed his enthusiasm about the award: “We are thrilled to be at the forefront of space robotics, contributing directly to NASA’s Artemis missions. This opportunity not only recognizes our expertise in robotic software development but also challenges us to push the boundaries of what autonomous systems can achieve in space exploration.”

The project builds upon the successful completion of Phase I, where PickNik developed enhanced fault management and recovery solutions for robotic arms. The new phase will expand these capabilities to whole-body robotic manipulators, significantly increasing the complexity and effectiveness of robotic operations on the Moon.

PickNik’s existing software platform, MoveIt Pro, will play a crucial role in the project. As a hardware-agnostic mobile manipulation platform, it offers robust tools for perception, motion planning, and execution, allowing for sophisticated mission design and real-time operational adjustments. This platform has been crucial in past collaborations with NASA and is set to be even more instrumental in future lunar exploration missions.

By fostering closer collaboration with NASA engineers and leveraging feedback from previous ground demonstrations, PickNik Robotics aims to enhance the autonomous capabilities of space robots, ensuring they can perform critical tasks reliably with minimal human intervention.

This Phase II SBIR award not only reinforces PickNik Robotics’ position as a leader in space robotics but also propels forward the capabilities of robotic systems in supporting sustainable human presence on the Moon.

For more information about PickNik Robotics and the “Dexterous Whole-Body Manipulation for Robotic Lunar Operations” project, please visit https://picknik.ai/space/.

If you would like more information, please contact Nashley Banister at nashley.banister@picknik.ai