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Research Tasks

Research efforts at JPL are called tasks, and fall into four broad categories by sponsor: NASA science, NASA exploration, JPL internal, and non-NASA (typically DoD). Below is a list of most of our current efforts, linked to short descriptions of the work content and the name of the lead researcher.

Current Tasks
Completed Tasks

NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) funded

  1. 2020/08/20 - Multimodal Locomotion Enabling Ocean Worlds Science Operations
  2. 2020/03/31 - Ocean Worlds Lander Autonomy Testbed (OWLAT)
  3. 2018/09/30 - BiBlade Sampler for Small Body Sample Return
  4. 2018/09/30 - FreeClimber
  5. 2018/09/30 - Research Rover Test Bed
  6. 2018/09/30 - Advanced Development Team Extraction, Insertion, and Manipulation Testing
  7. 2016/09/30 - PIXL Optical Fiducial System
  8. 2016/09/25 - VolcanoBots
  9. 2014/09/28 - Mars Rover Fast Traverse
  10. 2014/09/28 - Structured Light Imaging Module for Rover Navigation
  11. 2014/09/28 - Mars Sample Tube Sealing
  12. 2013/09/29 - Sample Acquisition and Caching for a Potential Mars Caching Mission
  13. 2012/09/30 - Combined EDL-Mobility Analysis Trade Study Tool (CEMAT)
  14. 2012/09/29 - MSL Mobility and Manipulation Planning
  15. 2012/08/31 - Multi-mission EDL Reconstruction
  16. 2010/09/30 - Tactical Rover-Based Geologic Mapping
  17. 2010/09/30 - Multi-modal Image Registration and Mapping
  18. 2009/09/30 - Telesupervised Adaptive Ocean Sensor Fleet
  19. 2008/09/30 - Rock Hazard Detection Analysis
  20. 2008/09/30 - ROAMS Interface for Rover Technologies
  21. 2008/09/30 - Reusable Robotic Software - CLARAty
  22. 2008/09/30 - Large-Scale Terrain Support in ROAMS
  23. 2008/09/30 - AMASE: Arctic Mars Analogue Svalbard Expedition
  24. 2008/09/28 - High-Resolution Terrain Database for DSENDS
  25. 2008/01/31 - SHERPA System
  26. 2007/12/31 - DSENDS for AutoNav IPP
  27. 2007/10/31 - Rover Maintenance and Upgrades
  28. 2007/10/31 - Multi-Sensor Hazard Assessment and Safe Site Selection
  29. 2007/10/31 - Passively Imaged, Multi-Cue HDA for Safe Landing
  30. 2007/10/31 - DSENDS Enhancement
  31. 2007/09/30 - COTS Terminal Descent Sensor Flight Test
  32. 2007/09/30 - SCAIP: Integrated System for Single Command Approach and Instrument Placement
  33. 2007/09/30 - Mars Superpressure Balloons
  34. 2007/09/30 - Spacecraft Pin-Point Landing
  35. 2007/09/30 - Very Rough Terrain Nonholonomic Trajectory Generation and Motion Planning for Planetary Rovers
  36. 2007/09/30 - Multi-Sensor Terrain Classification and Terrain-Adaptive Navigation for Rovers in Very Rough Terrain
  37. 2007/08/31 - Whole Rover-Arm Coordination
  38. 2007/07/31 - Distributed Spectroscopy for Mobile Science Laboratories
  39. 2007/07/30 - Long-range Autonomous Rover Localization
  40. 2007/05/31 - Rock Detection Study for Phoenix
  41. 2007/03/31 - D* Integration into MER
  42. 2007/01/31 - Distributed Motor Controller for Flight
  43. 2006/12/31 - DSENDS Validation
  44. 2006/12/31 - Athena Rover Development
  45. 2006/09/30 - Machine Vision Algorithm Toolbox
  46. 2006/09/30 - Aerocapture Systems Definition
  47. 2006/09/30 - Robust Autonomous Instrument Placement for Rovers
  48. 2006/09/30 - Moulin Ice Probe Deployment
  49. 2006/09/30 - In Situ Hydrothermal Vent Probing and Sampling Device for Microbial Analysis
  50. 2006/09/30 - Instrument Placement Algorithm Validation
  51. 2006/07/31 - Rover-based Manipulation Technology
  52. 2006/06/30 - Rover Technology Integration - CLARAty
  53. 2006/06/30 - Rover Navigation Algorithm Validation
  54. 2006/06/30 - Visual Tracking Integration into MER
  55. 2005/09/30 - ROAMS: Rover Modeling and Simulation
  56. 2005/09/30 - SHPE/Landmark Models
  57. 2005/09/30 - MAESTRO for MSL
  58. 2005/09/01 - FIDO 5 Development
  59. 2001/09/30 - Nano Rover
  60. 1999/09/30 - PDM: Planetary Dexterous Manipulators
  61. 1998/09/30 - Long Range Science Rover

NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD)

  1. 2017/09/30 - A Microspine Gripper for the proposed Asteroid Redirect Mission
  2. 2016/12/31 - Surface Exploration Analysis and Simulation
  3. 2013/09/30 - Prototype Grapple Arm for Space Exploration Vehicle

NASA Space Exploration Technology Directorate (STMD)

  1. 2020/08/03 - Integrated Communication and Controls for Swarms of Small Satellites
  2. 2020/01/30 - Dasher
  3. 2019/09/30 - Titan Precision Landing
  4. 2017/03/31 - PUFFER Concept Pop-Up Flat Folding Explorer Robots
  5. 2016/09/25 - Ocean Worlds Mobility and Sensing Concepts

NASA Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT)

  1. 2019/02/28 - SPARROW: Steam Propelled Autonomous Retrieval Robot for Ocean Worlds
  2. 2016/09/30 - Orbiting Rainbows
  3. 2015/03/31 - Comet Hitchhiker
  4. 2014/06/30 - Transformers for Extreme Environments
  5. 2012/09/23 - Spacecraft/Rover Hybrids for the Exploration of Small Solar System Bodies

NASA Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) funded

  1. 2015/12/31 - ATHLETE Low Gravity Testbed
  2. 2011/01/01 - Lunar Surface Operations Simulator (LSOS)
  3. 2010/10/31 - ALHAT: Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology
  4. 2010/09/30 - ATHLETE: Rough and Steep Terrain Lunar Surface Mobility
  5. 2009/09/30 - Rover for Steep Terrain Access
  6. 2007/09/30 - Lunar Wheel
  7. 2006/12/31 - Launchable and Retrievable Tetherbot Exploration System
  8. 2006/09/30 - Humanoid Robot for Intelligent Handling and Assembly Tasks
  9. 2006/09/30 - HABBOT Two Arms Coordination
  10. 2006/04/30 - A Plug-and-play Architecture for Real-time Intelligent Avionics
  11. 2006/03/31 - Telepresense for Remote Supervision of Robots
  12. 2005/11/30 - Ultralightweight, Inflatable, Thin Film Ballutes for Earth Return from the Moon
  13. 2005/11/30 - SuperBot: Modular, Multifunctional, Reconfigurable Robot
  14. 2005/11/30 - SimScape: Autonomy Infusion Simulation Environment
  15. 2005/11/30 - PRoSPECT: Wide Area Prospecting Using Supervised Autonomous Robot
  16. 2005/11/30 - JTARS: Joint Technical Architecture for Robotic Systems
  17. 2005/11/30 - In Space Robotic Assembly and Maintenance
  18. 2005/11/30 - DARE: Distributed & Re-Taskable Electronics
  19. 2005/11/30 - AWIMR: Autonomous Walking Inspection and Maintenance Robot
  20. 2005/11/30 - Autonomous Robotic Manipulator Control
  21. 2005/11/30 - Automated Assembly and Reconfiguration of Future Large-Scale Space Systems
  22. 2005/11/30 - An Analytical Configuration Model for Modular Cooperative-repair Robot Teams Given Mission Constraints
  23. 2005/09/30 - Spiderbot: Robotic Colonies
  24. 2005/09/30 - Autonomous Robotic Construction

NASA Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (Code R)

  1. 1997/09/30 - RAMS: Robot Assisted Microsurgery
  2. 1995/09/30 - Hazbot: Ground Emergency Response Vehicle
  3. 1995/09/30 - Remote Surface Inspection
  4. 1993/09/30 - STELER: Supervised Telerobotics Laboratory
  5. 1992/09/30 - Shared and Traded Control for Remote Teleoperation
  6. 1991/09/30 - Exoskeleton
  7. 1989/09/30 - Telerobot Testbed

JPL Internal Research Programs funded

  1. 2020/07/01 - Autonomous Drone-Based Sampling of Volcanic Gas
  2. 2019/09/30 - Autonomous Approach of Small Unknown Bodies
  3. 2019/09/30 - Ice Worm
  4. 2019/09/30 - Recurring Slope Lineae Exploration and Sampling
  5. 2019/09/30 - Underwater Mobile Manipulation
  6. 2019/09/30 - Swarm Autonomy
  7. 2019/06/30 - Enabling Precision Flyby and Close-up imaging with UAVs
  8. 2019/06/30 - Ultra-Low Mass and Power Gas Sensor for Planetary Exploration and Earth Science Monitoring
  9. 2018/10/01 - Cyber Security Visualization
  10. 2018/09/30 - Ranger: Browser-based Visualization System for Engineering and Public Outreach
  11. 2018/09/30 - Tactile Wheels
  12. 2018/05/28 - Risk-Aware Machine Learning for Resilient Space Exploration
  13. 2017/09/30 - Adaptive Analysis for Underwater Autonomy
  14. 2017/09/30 - Autonomous Small UAVs for In-situ Observation of Ecosystem Properties from Leaf to Canopy
  15. 2017/09/30 - Next-Gen Autonav Concept
  16. 2017/09/30 - Mars On-Orbit Sample Transfer Technologies (MOSTT)
  17. 2016/09/28 - Mars Sample Transfer Testbed (MSTT)
  18. 2016/09/25 - Gecko Gripper
  19. 2016/09/25 - Wearable Interface for Natural Gesture Control and Tele-Operation of Robotic Systems
  20. 2016/09/25 - Browser-based Exoplanet Visualization for Education, Public Outreach and Engineering
  21. 2016/09/25 - Fast Optimal Motion Planning with High Fidelity Dynamics
  22. 2015/10/01 - Cave Robot
  23. 2015/10/01 - Gecko-like Adhesives for Orbital Debris Applications
  24. 2015/09/30 - Adaptive Resolution Stereo-Vision (ARES-V)
  25. 2015/09/29 - Sampling Chain for Primitive Body Surface Sample Return
  26. 2015/09/27 - STABLE
  27. 2015/09/27 - ISS Remote Inspection System (IRIS)
  28. 2015/09/27 - Planetary Aerial and Surface Access Systems
  29. 2015/05/31 - In-Space Telescope Assembly
  30. 2014/09/30 - Rapid Forest Triage by Sub-canopy Micro Air Vehicle
  31. 2014/09/28 - Small Body Surface Sampler and Explorer (SmalBoSSE)
  32. 2014/09/28 - A Minimalistic Robot for In-situ Exploration of Small Bodies
  33. 2013/09/30 - Axel Rovers for Exploring Extreme Terrains
  34. 2013/09/30 - Robotic Reconnaissance Systems – Dynamic Micro Ground Vehicle
  35. 2013/09/30 - Robotic Reconnaissance Systems – Micro Air Vehicles
  36. 2013/09/29 - Robotic Reconnaissance Systems – Aerial Reconnaissance
  37. 2012/09/30 - Gripping Foot Mechanisms for Anchoring and Mobility in Microgravity and Extreme Terrain
  38. 2012/09/30 - Mars Ascent Vehicle Front End and Payload
  39. 2011/09/30 - Power Efficient Fast Traverse for Mars Rovers
  40. 2010/09/30 - Planetary Sample Sealing for Caching
  41. 2007/09/30 - Robotic Arm Design Process
  42. 2007/09/30 - SOOPS: Science Operations on Planetary Surfaces
  43. 2007/09/30 - Rover Testbed for Technology Infusion to JPL
  44. 2006/09/30 - Cluster-Based MSL Simulation Data Manager For Design & Performance Space Exploration
  45. 2006/09/30 - Adaptive Human-Machine Interfaces for Collaborative Construction
  46. 2006/09/30 - Real-time Landmark Tracking
  47. 2006/09/30 - Tumbleweed Rover Concept for in situ Martian Exploration
  48. 2006/09/30 - Biosleeve: Multi-electrode EMG Sleeve Human-Machine Interface
  49. 2006/06/30 - Towards a New Generation of Spacecraft Landing Testbeds: Emulating Spacecraft Landing Dynamics on a Helicopter
  50. 2005/09/30 - Cluster-Based Large Scale Surface Rover Simulations
  51. 2005/09/30 - Titan Aerobots
  52. 2005/09/30 - Distributed Rover Avionics Software
  53. 2000/12/31 - Innovative Mobility Systems: Hopping Robots

Non-NASA funded

  1. 2019/12/31 - Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance (RCTA)
  2. 2019/12/31 - Next Generation NATO Reference Mobility Model for Intelligent Vehicles
  3. 2019/12/31 - Robotic Inspection of Tanks (RIOT)
  4. 2019/09/30 - Streamlined Quick-Unfolding Investigator Drone (SQUID)
  5. 2018/12/31 - Intent Recognition for On-Water Dynamic Maritime Domains
  6. 2018/12/31 - Wall Climbing Robots
  7. 2018/12/31 - ACTUV Phase II
  8. 2018/12/31 - Coordinated Tactical Behaviors
  9. 2018/12/31 - Autonomous Perception and Hazard Avoidance for Navy USVs
  10. 2018/12/31 - Risk-Aware Human-Cooperative Planning
  11. 2017/11/30 - Project Tango – Visual SLAM Development
  12. 2017/09/30 - Learning Homogeneous Knowledge Representation from Heterogeneous Data for Qualitative and Quantitative Reasoning in Autonomy
  13. 2017/05/31 - Autonomy and Situational Awareness for UMS
  14. 2017/05/31 - Autonomy and Perception for Uncrewed Sea Surface Vehicles
  15. 2016/10/01 - Supervised Remote Robot with Guided Autonomy/Teleoperation (Surrogate)
  16. 2016/09/30 - Demonstration Wave Detection, Prediction, and Reaction System (WDPRS)
  17. 2016/09/25 - Risk Reduction for Robotic In Space Telescope Assembly Concept
  18. 2016/09/25 - Active Night-Time Stereo and Localization
  19. 2016/09/25 - Mobility Testbed for Army Unmanned Ground Vehicles
  20. 2016/09/25 - Smart Wells
  21. 2016/06/30 - Detailed ASV/USV Modeling and Simulation System (DAMS)
  22. 2016/03/31 - CODE - Collaborative Ops in Denied Environment
  23. 2016/01/01 - DECODE Autonomy and Simulation
  24. 2015/12/31 - Prime Focus Spectrograph Positioner Software
  25. 2015/12/31 - Micro Autonomous Systems Collaborative Technology Alliance (MAST CTA)
  26. 2015/12/31 - Sea-Based Automated launch and Recovery System (SALRS)
  27. 2015/12/31 - Sensor Fusion for Low-Cost Perception
  28. 2015/09/27 - ACTUV - Advanced Sensing and Behaviors for Covert Operations
  29. 2015/09/27 - Test and Evaluation of AVM Tools for DARPA FANG Challenge
  30. 2015/09/27 - ACTUV - Autonomy Algorithms for Navigation in High Sea States
  31. 2015/09/27 - DRC - DARPA Robotics Challenge, RoboSimian (Track A)
  32. 2015/04/30 - Fixational Automated Target Extraction
  33. 2014/12/31 - USSV - Operations in Challenging Environments
  34. 2014/12/31 - Angel Fire Phase II
  35. 2014/12/31 - USSV - Autonomy for Unmanned Sea Surface Vehicles
  36. 2014/12/31 - USSV - Autonomy For Littoral Combat Ship Missions
  37. 2014/12/31 - Perception For High-Speed Legged Vehicles
  38. 2014/12/31 - Bioelectric Sensor Arrays for Reliable Prosthetic Interface
  39. 2014/09/30 - Phoenix Gecko Gripper
  40. 2014/09/28 - ACTUV - Adversarial Game Theory Enhancements
  41. 2014/09/28 - Autonomous Robotic Manipulation Software (ARM-S)
  42. 2013/06/30 - Autonomous Rotorcraft Operations from Unprepared Sites (Phase II)
  43. 2013/06/30 - DRC - DARPA Robotics Challenge (Track B)
  44. 2013/04/28 - Terrain Ontology and Massively Parallel Granular Media Models for Mobility
  45. 2013/04/08 - Night-Time Perception and Visual Odometry for Small Unmanned Ground Vehicles
  46. 2013/02/24 - UUV Dynamic High Level Planner
  47. 2013/01/27 - Real-time High-Fidelity Simulation for Autonomous Ground Vehicles
  48. 2012/12/30 - Autonomy For Unmanned Underwater Vehicles
  49. 2012/09/25 - Aerial Processing
  50. 2011/12/31 - Mobility Mechanics Modeling Toolkit (M3Tk)
  51. 2011/10/02 - Rapid 3D Object Visualization For Mobile Robots
  52. 2011/10/01 - Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology (MAST)
  53. 2011/09/25 - Medium Array Camera Calibration
  54. 2011/07/17 - Advanced Behaviors and Sensing for Unmanned Surface Vehicles
  55. 2011/03/01 - Autonomous Stair Climbing for Portable Unmanned Ground Vehicles
  56. 2011/01/02 - Autonomy Integration For The US Navy Griffin Demonstration
  57. 2010/12/26 - High-Resolution, Continuous Field-Of-View (FOV), Non-Rotating Imaging System Advanced Demonstration Model
  58. 2010/10/03 - Perception System Design for FCS ANS
  59. 2010/09/26 - Integrated Mission, Vehicle, and Sensor Control of the iPuma AUV
  60. 2010/06/13 - Visual Navigation of a Small Rotorcraft
  61. 2010/01/31 - Implementation and Automation of Imaging Technologies for Angel Fire
  62. 2009/12/27 - Integrated Mission, Vehicle, and Sensor Control of the I-PUMA AUV
  63. 2009/10/25 - Intelligent Autonomy for Maritime Navigation on Unmanned Surface Vehicles
  64. 2009/09/30 - Water Detection
  65. 2009/09/30 - Human Detection
  66. 2008/09/30 - Robotic Perception Technology Transfer
  67. 2008/09/30 - Learning Perception for Autonomous Navigation
  68. 2008/09/30 - Vision System Development for BigDog
  69. 2007/09/30 - Implementation and Automation of Imaging Technologies
  70. 2006/12/31 - Robotics Technology Transfer
  71. 2006/09/30 - Enhancements for Stereo Obstacle Detection
  72. 2006/09/30 - Elasmobranch Brain-Machine Interface
  73. 2005/09/30 - Vision System for Autonomous Helicopter
  74. 2004/12/31 - PAUSE: Picosat and UAV Systems Engineering
  75. 2004/09/30 - JSC ISS Cell Growth Experiments with JPL Micro-Imagers
  76. 2001/09/30 - Urbie: Urban Robot
  77. 2001/09/30 - Automated Plant Micro-Propagation
  78. 1996/09/30 - MACS: Multifunction Automated Crawling System