Aurora Robotics

The Aurora Robotics Team

I am the leader of the Aurora Robotics Team (the student-led group associated with the lab). We are a group of students who work together on various robotics projects and competitions. One of our notable involvements is in NASA's academic challenges, such as the eXploration Habitat (X-Hab) Innovation Challenge, where we design and build robotic systems for in-space construction and lunar applications, like habitat assembly or lunar mining. Our team currently includes a mix of engineering, computer science, and other STEM majors, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Our projects often address real-world challenges in environments where human operation is limited or dangerous, and we provide a hands-on experience for students in research, design, testing, and leadership within the field of robotics.

Our Godot 4 Robot Simulation

I am currently in charge of developing a lunar mining and construction simulator in the Godot 4 game engine, a powerful, open-source game engine. The simulation is designed to simulate robots in various environments, focusing primarily on lunar applications but capable of simulating others.

The simulator is being developed to test the performance of robotics systems in handling tasks such as lunar surface navigation, construction, and mining. The simulator is used to experiment with different robotic tools, evaluate control strategies, and simulate interactions between autonomous systems.

By leveraging Godot’s real-time physics, 3D rendering, and scripting capabilities, the simulator provides detailed feedback on how robots behave in dynamic, harsh environments like the lunar surface, where factors like gravity, terrain, and power constraints can significantly affect performance. This allows my team to develop and iterate on robotic designs before testing them in physical models or real-world applications.

Feel free to download a pre-release for Windows, Linux, or Android systems and give the simulator a try!