On March 30, 2026, the kick-off meeting for the LunarCobot research project took place. The University of Stuttgart is participating in the project through its Institute of Space Systems. Over the next three years, the University of Stuttgart will work on the project together with the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the University of Bremen.
LunarCobot focuses on the further development of robotic technologies for use on the lunar surface, with a particular emphasis on multi-robot mission scenarios. Collaborative robots—so-called cobots—and networks of robotic systems with different capabilities play a central role in this, as they can carry out demanding missions, especially under complex requirements and constraints.
This can make a major contribution to the exploration of previously unexplored regions on the lunar surface. This is particularly true for hard-to-reach environments such as craters and cave systems. A key research focus of the project is the targeted further development of hardware and software to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of various robotic systems. Upon completion of the project, testing of the developed technologies at the LUNA Analog Facility of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is planned, among other activities.
At the University of Stuttgart, Moritz Gewehr’s team is working on the development of rover systems weighing just a few kilograms, which are connected to their base module via a cable—a so-called tether. A tether simultaneously provides power and transmits data, and can also serve as a mechanical safety measure. “Hybrid tethers combine all these functions and open up entirely new mission scenarios,” explains Moritz Gewehr. “This allows us to develop small, lightweight, and mobile systems that can, for example, venture into shaded craters or caves while still being reliably powered and controlled over extended mission durations.”
In addition, as part of the LunarCobot project, the team is working on innovative mobility solutions for planetary surfaces, such as highly integrated propulsion systems with low resource requirements, to move reliably across the Moon’s dusty regolith surface.
The Project partner DFKI - to be precise, the Robotics Innovation Center (RIC) in Bremen - is developing multifunctional interfaces for the handling of payload modules by lunar robots. In addition, high-performance propulsion units for dynamic applications are being developed. In the areas of software and simulation, the RIC at the DFKI is working on guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems as well as methods for mapping shadowed regions. At the University of Bremen, the LunarCobot project is developing models for coordinating heterogeneous robot swarms. The goal is to achieve efficient interaction and task distribution among the systems.
LunarCobot fits into both national and international space strategies, such as the ESA’s Terrae Nova initiative and NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture, which envision the Moon as a starting point for further missions in space. Robotic systems play a key role in this context, for example in preparing infrastructure and conducting scientific experiments.
The project will also be integrated into the curriculum, and students at the University of Stuttgart will be able to get actively involved even during their studies. “We are already offering several student projects related to LunarCobot this summer semester,” says Gewehr. “In addition, the project will play an important role in our rover development internship, which traditionally concludes in September with our Rover Challenge.”
LunarCobot is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space via the DLR (BMFTR, grant number: 50RA2601C).
Contact:
Moritz Gewehr, M.Sc.
IRS – LunarCobot Project Manager
Phone: +49 711-685-69602
Email: gewehr@irs.uni-stuttgart.de
Dr. Dörte Mehlert
IRS Public Relations
Phone: +49 711-685-69632
Email: doerte.mehlert@irs.uni-stuttgart.de
Further links related to this news:
- LunarCobot project page at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (dfki) in Bremen
- LUNA Analog Facility of the DLR and ESA in Cologne
Aerospace research at the University of Stuttgart
Aerospace studies in Stuttgart form a unique interdisciplinary think tank for key technologies in space and on Earth. Researchers at the University of Stuttgart bring together expertise from the fields of climate and energy research, communications technology, propulsion technology, and AI-assisted flight. A central focus is the exploration of sustainable technological solutions aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of aerospace. Research is conducted in an interdisciplinary manner and in close collaboration with regional and international partners from academia and industry, for example within the framework of the Collaborative Research Centers ATLAS (SFB 1667) and SynTrac (SFB-TRR 364). As a partner of THE Aerospace LÄND, the University of Stuttgart contributes to the implementation of Baden-Württemberg’s state strategy to shape aerospace in a sustainable, digital, and collaborative manner by 2050. The University offers its students a solid engineering and application-oriented education. In promoting young talent, it cooperates with the “Future Initiative for Young Talent in Aerospace,” an initiative of the state of Baden-Württemberg dedicated to strengthening the promotion o