# Episode 127: Robots exploring other planets - Frances Zhu

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2025-10-03
- Length: 32m
- Episode: 127
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=7) Introduction: Robot Talk Season 6 and Funding Update
- [4:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=273) ROSE Lab Research: Rover Mobility and Intelligence
- [6:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=369) Autonomy Stacks: Perseverance, AutoNav, and Terrain Mechanics
- [9:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=550) Localization Without GPS: Orbiter Assistance and Relative Updates
- [11:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=685) Computer Vision and AI Superhuman Capabilities
- [12:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=767) Trust, Transparency, and Explainability in Space Robotics
- [18:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=1093) Earth Analog Testing: Utah, Hawaii, and Field Trips
- [19:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=1176) Scaling Missions: Human Bottlenecks and Deep Space Network
- [21:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=1311) Society of Robots and Biomimicry
- [22:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=1368) Dream Destinations: Europa, Enceladus, and Titan
- [25:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=1509) Public vs. Private Sector: NASA, SpaceX, and CLPS
- [29:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu#t=1778) Global Leaders: US, China, and ESA's MMX Mission

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Colorado School of Mines (company)
- ROSE Lab (other)
- NASA (company)
- Perseverance (product)
- AutoNav (product)
- Lunokhod (product)
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (product)
- University Rover Challenge (other)
- Mars Desert Research Station (other)
- SpaceX (company)
- Astrobotic (company)
- Honeybee Robotics (company)
- CLPS (other)
- DLR (company)
- MMX (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Celebrating 200 Episodes; Evolution of robotics in space exploration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-06-13-celebrating-200-episodes-evolution-of-robotics-in-space-exploration) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Bonus Edition - 2023 RBR50 Review](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-21-bonus-edition-2023-rbr50-review) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Podcast: First-half 2020 highlights; space robotics expert Chris Thayer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-07-01-podcast-first-half-2020-highlights-space-robotics-expert-chris-thayer) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Redefining the Imaginable in Space Exploration & Communication](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-08-17-redefining-the-imaginable-in-space-exploration-communication) (Over the Air)
- [S1E58 NASA, Systems Engineering, and Sending Robots to Space | David Oh](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

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