The 2022 BIG Idea Challenge focused on "Extreme Terrain Mobility," inviting student teams to design innovative robotic systems capable of traversing the Moon's challenging terrains. The competition aimed to develop alternative rover locomotion methods to access areas such as steep slopes, fluffy regolith, and subterranean caves on the lunar surface.
Our team at Northeastern University created COBRA, a snake-inspired robot designed to autonomously navigate the lunar terrain. This bio-inspired robot, developed under the guidance of Professor Alireza Ramezani in the Silicon Synapse lab, showcased advanced capabilities for extreme terrain exploration. COBRA's unique design allows it to maneuver through areas that traditional wheeled rovers cannot reach, offering significant advantages for lunar exploration missions.
The COBRA project won the 2022 BIG Idea Challenge, earning the prestigious Artemis Award after presenting at the NASA JPL Conference. Our innovative approach and successful demonstration highlighted Northeastern University's expertise in bio-inspired robotics and its commitment to advancing space exploration technologies.
Following the competition, the development of COBRA continues in the Silicon Synapse lab, where our team is refining its capabilities and exploring further applications. The ongoing work aims to enhance the robot's autonomy, durability, and functionality, ensuring it meets the rigorous demands of space exploration.
Our groundbreaking work with COBRA has been widely recognized. National Geographic published an article titled “Lunar Robot Snakes Explore the Moon”, highlighting the innovative design and potential applications of our snake-inspired robot. Similarly, Wired's article “Rovers Are So Yesterday. It’s Time to Send a Snakebot to Space” provides an in-depth look at how COBRA can revolutionize lunar exploration.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/lunar-robot-snakes-explore-the-moon-nasa
https://www.wired.com/story/rovers-are-so-yesterday-its-time-to-send-a-snakebot-to-space/