Hardware Podcasts

Episode 127: Robots exploring other planets - Frances Zhu

Robot Talk · 3 Oct 2025 · 32m · Episode 127

What this episode covers

Frances Zhu, an Assistant Professor at the Colorado School of Mines leading the ROSE Lab, discusses intelligent robotic systems for space exploration, focusing on planetary rovers and the shift toward autonomy. She explains how AI and computer vision are being integrated into autonomy stacks to handle communication delays and terrain uncertainty, moving beyond traditional teleoperation. Zhu also addresses the critical challenge of 'trust' in AI-driven systems, emphasizing the need for transparency and explainability in high-stakes aerospace environments. The conversation covers testing on Earth analogs, the role of commercial entities like SpaceX and Astrobotic, and the competitive landscape of global space robotics.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Colorado School of Mines, NASA, SpaceX, Astrobotic, Honeybee Robotics, DLR
Products
Perseverance, AutoNav, Lunokhod, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MMX
Also
ROSE Lab, University Rover Challenge, Mars Desert Research Station, CLPS

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 2h 03m

    Celebrating 200 Episodes; Evolution of robotics in space exploration

    Hosts Steve Crow, Mike Oitzman, and Gene Demaitre celebrate the 200th episode of The Robot Report Podcast, reflecting on five years of industry coverage, key trends like the rise of humanoids, and the impact of the pandemic. They interview Dr. Robert Ambrose, former NASA robotics chief and current Chairman of Robotics and AI at Alliant, who discusses the evolution of space robotics, the commercialization of humanoid technology, and the urgent need for the U.S. to regain leadership against China. The episode features testimonials from industry figures like Jonathan Hurst and Aaron Prather, and highlights the importance of K-12 robotics education in fostering the next generation of engineers.

    Robotics & autonomyAI & machine learning
    8 chapters

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 1h 07m

    Bonus Edition - 2023 RBR50 Review

    Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman review the 2023 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award honorees, highlighting NASA’s space robotics initiatives, including the James Webb Space Telescope, the DART spacecraft, and the Perseverance Rover. They discuss Space E’s Deming Rover for retail inventory, Tusk Robots’ pallet-moving solution, and WHILL’s autonomous airport mobility service. The hosts also analyze business innovations from Teradyne, Machine Labs’ robotic metal forming, Amazon’s Sparrow picking robot, and Agility Robotics’ Digit humanoid.

    Robotics & autonomyScaling production
    10 chapters

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 1h 19m

    Podcast: First-half 2020 highlights; space robotics expert Chris Thayer

    Steve Crow and Eugene Dimitri recap the first half of 2020, discussing Amazon's acquisition of Zoox, Aurora Innovation's pivot to autonomous trucking, and the impact of COVID-19 on robotics companies like Boston Dynamics and iRobot. They then interview Chris Thayer, CEO of Motive Space Systems, about the company's development of the X-Link modular space robotic arm, its work on the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, and strategies for lowering the cost of space robotics.

    Robotics & autonomyScaling production
    9 chapters

  • Over the Air · 38m

    Redefining the Imaginable in Space Exploration & Communication

    Neil Mallik, Office of the Chief Engineer for Space Communications and Navigation at NASA, discusses the commercialization of space exploration and the technical challenges of interconnectivity in deep space. He explains NASA's strategy of leveraging private industry to fill gaps in near-Earth communications and navigation, moving away from doing everything in-house. The conversation covers the development of LunarNet and MarsNet frameworks to provide ubiquitous connectivity for spacecraft and astronauts, addressing bandwidth limitations of the Deep Space Network. Mallik also shares his perspective on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), dismissing extraterrestrial visitation as unlikely due to the lack of credible evidence and logical inconsistencies in the sightings.

    Connected products & IoTPolicy, trade & tariffs
    7 chapters

  • Being an Engineer · 52m

    S1E58 NASA, Systems Engineering, and Sending Robots to Space | David Oh

    David Oh, former flight director for the Mars Curiosity rover and current systems engineering manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), discusses the complexities of deep space missions. He details the technical challenges of the Curiosity landing, including the autonomous Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) sequence and the 'sky crane' mechanism, as well as the unique physiological and logistical demands of living on 'Martian time.' Oh also outlines the rigorous proposal process for the Psyche mission to a metal asteroid and explains how systems engineering and risk management mitigate the high failure rates of interplanetary travel.

    Careers & educationMechanical engineering
    8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Robot Talk. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.