Moon Robots Scoop Up Fairy Tale Ending – NMT LunaMiners Sweep Collegiate Space Mining Competition

AMES, Iowa – New Mexico Tech’s LunaMiners team recently showcased their exceptional engineering capabilities by sweeping the Autonomous construction robots held at Iowa State University. The three-day competition challenged teams to design and build autonomous robots capable of lunar construction tasks, specifically excavating and stacking lunar regolith to create berms. Their robot had two attempts in the arena and a systems engineering design review—all important feedback to improve the bot.

Autonomous construction robots will play a critical role in advancing NASA’s Artemis Project, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. The team initially hit obstacles but solved problems on the fly to come from behind. The team was victorious with firsts in all categories.

The NMT LunaMiners arrived in Iowa fresh off a national first-place finish in the NASA MINDS Competition, eager to continue their success. The 14-student team spent their first day meticulously preparing and tuning their skid loader-style robot, an improved version of last year’s design featuring significant weight reductions, faster actuation systems, and a more robust control system.

Their first official run quickly turned into a test of resilience and quick thinking. As the prep timer began, the robot failed to move. Spectators watched anxiously as the Mission Control room became increasingly animated. With less than a minute left, the Automation Team discovered the ISU network had failed. In a moment of quick thinking, the team created their own network using a cell phone. Despite losing 10 crucial minutes of run time, the LunaMiners swiftly switched to manual mode, bringing the robot to life. Their machine performed flawlessly, piling the highest and largest berm of the day to the delight of the cheering crowd.

NMT finished second in first day scoring to San Diego State University (SDSU), who gained an advantage with a single autonomous dig run. Unofficial scores showed SDSU ahead with 853 points to NMIMT’s 767.

The second day proved to be a pivotal one for NMT. It began with a comprehensive Systems Engineering presentation to Caterpillar, in which the team demonstrated their deep understanding of engineering principles. Engineering programs, both graduate and undergraduate, at NMT often include real-world interactions with industry, preparing students for career success.

After fine-tuning automation and resolving communication issues, the team made their second and final run. Only three of the allotted 10 minutes were used to set up and establish connections. The robot immediately sprang into action, quickly surpassing the previous day’s performance. Operating in manual mode, they continued to pile material at an impressive rate, drawing cheers from spectators.

Despite attempting two autonomous runs that failed to complete (reaching 95% on one attempt), they reverted to manual control and continued excavation. By the time the clock stopped, the LunaMiners had deposited 310 liters of regolith into the box – an unofficial all-time record for the most material deposited in any of the competitions.

Their exceptional design caught the immediate attention of Caterpillar representatives, who eagerly approached the team in the robopit to discuss their effective design.

The day’s unofficial scores ended with a commanding lead of 1,026 points for NMT, significantly ahead of Youngstown State (623) and other competitors.

The only remaining suspense was San Diego State’s final run on the last day. SDSU’s robot, CREED, began its run smoothly, steadily scooping and loading material, filling about 20% of the dump area and securing 150 points with an autonomy run. However, with 13 minutes remaining, CREED shut down, having triggered its e-stop.

The culmination of their efforts came at the evening banquet, where NMT “cleaned house,” securing an impressive array of awards:

· Innovation (Design Presentation to Caterpillar): 1st Place

· Construction (Biggest Berm Created): 1st Place

· Most Insane Driving: 1st Place

· Overall Points: 1st Place

These accolades are a direct reflection of the team’s immense hard work and dedication throughout the semester. For several students, this triumph was the culmination of nearly four years of relentless effort.

The team extends heartfelt gratitude to all the supporters and mentors who made this incredible opportunity possible, emphasizing that none of this would have been achievable without their invaluable contributions. Team Advisor Hollis Dinwiddie reported daily from Iowa, keeping everyone back home on the edge of their seats during the exciting three days.