GMV field tests a new ESA software in Fuerteventura: a giant leap for rover speed

The technology multinational GMV completed a test campaign on 8 October in Lajares, a village in the municipality of La Oliva, Fuerteventura, for an on-board autonomy framework comprising a matured Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) system, FASTNAV, and a new, AI-enabled perception subsystem, called HAWKEYE, which uses on-board inference to detect hazardous obstacles and terrains. 

Over eleven days, the company deployed and validated the GNC system as part of NOMAD, a modular autonomous navigation system that helps lunar rovers move quickly and safely across the Moon using information from different sensors and over different distances. During the campaign, GMV carried out tests inspired by mission scenarios, including crater exploration and travel in low-visibility conditions simulating the permanently shadowed regions. The activity is co-funded through ESA’s General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) and supported by the UK Space Agency (UKSA). Beginning as an ESA Technology Development Element (TDE) activity and subsequently matured through the GSTP de-risking framework, the technology has progressed from an early innovation to a validated autonomous navigation capability that will enable faster, more meaningful lunar exploration missions.

Lunar exploration is once again a priority on space agendas. The Moon’s polar regions are of particular interest because of the possible presence of water and other volatiles, as well as their extreme conditions: in some permanently shadowed regions, temperatures can approach 30 K (around -243 °C), and the lack of light makes navigation more difficult. Regolith and mineral resources, including metals and rare earth elements, could also be useful for future missions.

ESA's Technology Vision 2040, recognises that technology is the starting point for everything ESA does and lays out plans for establishing a sustained robotic and human presence beyond Earth, enabled by highly autonomous rovers and robotic systems that can explore and operate using in-situ resources. Developing technologies to support rovers and landers (and eventually a human presence on the lunar surface) has become a priority for the space industry and ESA. GSTP helps ensure these critical technologies are developed and matured to strengthen Europe's competitiveness so that the right technologies are available at the right maturity by the time they are needed. 

The latest part of the FASTNAV project incorporates HAWKEYE, which enhances the navigation system with artificial intelligence capabilities. Together with ANIME (developed through ESA's Navigation Innovation and Support Program), these three modules make up NOMAD, a modular autonomous navigation system that helps lunar rovers move quickly and safely across the Moon using information from different sensors and over different distances. They are implemented within the TASTE environment (The ASSERT Set of Tools for Engineering).

“This achievement highlights the strength of the UK's contribution to European space exploration and demonstrates how investments in advanced robotics are helping to mature the technologies needed for future lunar missions. Through programmes like ESA's GSTP, we are accelerating the development of innovative solutions that will enable more capable, resilient and autonomous exploration systems”, said Juan Bevan, FSR Business Manager at GMV’s UK subsidiary.

The system aims to address one of the limitations of planetary exploration: the need to stop the vehicle to assess obstacles and decide how to proceed. NOMAD will enable the rover to react to obstacles and adjust its route without stopping, with the aim of improving perception, localisation, planning and control in changing, low-visibility environments. To do so, it will combine computer vision and artificial intelligence techniques with obstacle detection and avoidance, real-time route planning and replanning, and autonomous vehicle control.

"Future lunar missions will require rovers to operate safely and efficiently in environments where communications delays, limited visibility and challenging terrain make direct human supervision difficult. NOMAD demonstrates how advanced autonomy can enable rovers to continuously assess their surroundings, avoid hazards and adapt their route in real time, helping maximise scientific return while reducing operational constraints. This campaign is an important step towards the next generation of fast and able autonomous systems that will support sustained exploration of the Moon and beyond”, said Steven Kay, technical lead for Advanced Robotic Concepts at GMV. Following the success of RAPID, NOMAD incoporates FASTNAV and HAWKEYE (also developed under this GSTP activity but developing AI within the software framework).

The test campaign completed in Fuerteventura marks further progress in the development and validation of autonomous navigation technologies for lunar exploration. With NOMAD, GMV continues to develop advanced robotics solutions aligned with the ESA’s objectives, helping rovers navigate complex, low-visibility terrain with greater autonomy and safety.

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