QUT leads a practical test bed for Roo-ver’s Moon journey
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is advancing Australia’s Moon ambitions with a dedicated team working on Roo-ver, the nation’s first lunar rover. Central to this effort is Yandiwanba, a Yugara word meaning ‘to go from the ground to a higher place.’ Developed by a large QUT cohort under the leadership of Professor Peynot, Yandiwanba houses a 19m by 11.4m lunar test bed filled with lunar regolith simulant. The setup lets researchers recreate lunar challenges here on Earth and fine‑tune the systems that will guide Roo-ver on the Moon.
“Yandiwanba allows us to recreate the challenges of lunar exploration here on Earth, so we can trial and refine the systems that will eventually guide Roo-ver on the Moon,” Professor Peynot said. A key aim of the project is to develop navigation strategies that can function with limited resources and in a harsh, away-from-Earth environment.
A mission-focused approach to navigation and object detection
A core focus of the work will be using the lander as a landmark to guide the rover during the mission, while using limited resources. The team will also be investigating visual object detection—identifying rocks, craters and other phenomena of interest that will help Roo-ver decide where to travel and what to study next.
Robotics expertise powers lunar navigation
“Obviously, the Moon presents an environment unlike anywhere on Earth,” said Professor Michael Milford, Director of the QUT Centre for Robotics. “QUT’s world-class robotics expertise, especially in robotic vision and navigation technologies, is a key capability we bring to the challenge of navigating on the Moon. There are no GPS satellites, the terrain is harsh and computing resources are limited. Our team is working on new approaches to robotic vision, scene understanding and localisation that will help keep Roo-ver safe and on course.”
Collaboration and funding fuel the Roo-ver mission
ELO2 and Roo-ver Mission Director Ben Sorensen described QUT as a vital partner: “QUT is home to world-class testing facilities in Brisbane, and these are matched with the world-class expertise of their robotics researchers. Navigating the terrain of the lunar surface—384,000 kilometres away—is an incredibly complex task, and the work Professor Peynot and his team are undertaking on Roo-ver’s navigation systems will be vital to the Mission’s success.”
In addition to the technical depth, the project taps into Australia’s broader commitment to space innovation. The Australian Government has allocated $42 million through the Australian Space Agency to this phase of Roo-ver, building on Australia’s strengths in robotics, automation, remote operations, engineering and advanced manufacturing.
Exploring extreme environments mirrors Antarctica work
Milford highlighted the broader relevance of QUT’s robotics research, noting parallels between lunar operations and extreme terrestrial environments. “There are many parallels between operating on the Moon and in Antarctica; centre teams have operated drones and submersible robots as part of the Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future initiative.” This cross‑pollination informs the development of robust robotic systems that can function in places where human access is limited.
A strong, multi-disciplinary team
The QUT team also includes Professor Niko Suenderhauf and Dr Dimity Miller from the QUT Centre for Robotics and Associate Professor David Flannery from the QUT School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Together, they are advancing the mission’s core technologies: robust vision systems, reliable localization, and resilient navigation under resource constraints.
As Australia forges ahead with Roo-ver and related lunar initiatives, Yandiwanba’s test bed and the cross-disciplinary expertise at QUT provide a concrete foundation for turning the dream of a homegrown lunar rover into a practical reality. The collaboration signals a pragmatic path from Earth‑bound testing to Moon‑bound exploration, with the Moon’s challenges met through careful engineering, smart sensing, and innovative robotics.
