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Thanks for hooking us up with CMU, following through with great drive and initiative to be sure that something came of the connection, and helping out with many details including technical publications, input on infusion, and helping us to look for other applications and funding sources for the proposed technology. Julie Loftis, Assistant Chief for Information Systems Technology, Information Systems Division, and Goddard’s Exploration Technology Lead

photo credit: Gregg Podnar, Carnegie Mellon University

The IPP Office was pleased to assist in the formation of a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU’s) Robotics Institute*. The Office identified CMU as an ideal partner for Goddard and arranged for several meetings between researchers from both organizations. After helping identify a research project well-suited for collaboration, the Office provided guidance as the researchers developed a proposal to secure funding for this research. The funded project, which also involves NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, joins Goddard’s Adaptive Sensor Fleet* and Instrument Remote Control* software with CMU’s innovative techniques for “telesupervision” to drive a fleet of autonomous boats to study harmful algae blooms in the Chesapeake Bay estuary, advancing the technology readiness level (TRL) of the new system’s various innovations. These TRL advancements will benefit NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, which could eventually use this system for lunar, orbital, or planetary construction and inspection; lunar and planetary in situ resource utilization; and prospecting, mining, transport, and construction.

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