Space & Planetary Autonomy

We advance intelligent and reliable autonomy for spacecraft and planetary robotic systems operating in challenging and resource-constrained environments. Our research combines physics-informed reinforcement learning, safety-critical guidance and control, and efficient onboard planning to support autonomous space missions and planetary exploration.

  • Physics-informed reinforcement learning for onboard spacecraft planning
  • Safety-critical guidance and control under mission constraints
  • Efficient onboard planning for resource-constrained spacecraft and planetary robots
A planetary rover and a legged robot on rocky lunar ground; above them, spacecraft follow planned trajectories between the Earth and the Moon, beside a trajectory chart and a keep-out zone around the Moon.

Representative publications

Publications in this direction will be listed here as they appear. All of our papers are on the Publications page.

Funded projects

  • NASA Early Career Faculty Award (ECF25) Safety-Enabled and Efficient Onboard Planning for Autonomous Spacecraft via Physics-Informed Reinforcement Learning 2026–2029 PI