RASSOR Robot

RASSOR (Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot) is NASA’s teleoperated robot for digging on other worlds. Its counter-rotating drums cancel out each other’s reaction forces, so it can load, haul and dump soil reliably even in extremely low gravity.

The Space Science Museum in Cēsis, Latvia, asked us to build a working replica for its permanent exhibition, which opened in July 2023. Visitors drive the robot themselves through a lunar landscape from a custom control desk.

My role

We led the project from start to finish, working with an outside partner on the control software. Our scope covered:

• Project management
• Design development and R&D
• CAD design
• Selecting mechanical and electrical components
• Structural analysis
• Managing manufacturing
• Testing and commissioning