Description: The ISRU Pilot Excavator (IPE) will be NASA's first lunar surface robot specifically designed with the reliability and efficiency to excavate large quantities of regolith. This capability is critical to sustained lunar mission success. IPE is targeting development of a full TRL 6 robotic excavator system in FY27. To accomplish this, the IPE project will develop a 30 kg-class excavator to demonstrate robotic excavation of large amounts (10,000 kg) of granular lunar regolith during a future lunar demonstration. IPE uses novel excavation tools, called bucket drums, which are hollow cylinders with scoops staggered around the outside. Regolith is collected with the scoops and flows into the drum where it is captured by an internal baffle system. The excavator can then transport the regolith in the drum and reverse the direction of the drum rotation to dispense the regolith back out. IPE uses two sets of bucket drums that dig simultaneously in opposing directions and results in counter-acting excavation forces. This combination of bucket drum excavation tools and counter-acting excavation forces enables low mass robotic excavators to effectively dig in reduced gravity environments. This is a significant departure from terrestrial excavators that rely on high mass to produce tractive forces to counteract the forces of excavation. IPE will traverse 100m between each digging and dumping operation to reflect the needs of future ISRU plants that want to source regolith a minuimum distance from the lander to avoid contamination. Additional novel features include camera modules with integreated electro-dynamic dust shields, a wireless battery recharging system, and a dust tolerant thermal control system.

Benefits: TheISRU Pilot Excavator project will include a ground demonstration of ISRU-relevant scale excavation in a simulated lunar environment. The outcome of this project will be an excavation system with Technolgy Readiness Level of 6 demonstrating pilot-scale excavation and providing confidence for future investments into ISRU Pilot Plant hardware. The data from the ground demonstration will be used to inform follow-on excavation systems and a development of a new class of "blue collar" planetary robot . This data will include, but is not limited to, the performance of the excavation tools, abrasive wear on critical surfaces, impacts of dust exposure, and the condition of regolith after repeated trafficking. To support a follow on ISRU Pilot Plant demonstration, appropriate design updates based on lessons learned and ISRU direction will be made. Future iterations of robotic excavators may include additional capabilities such as increased autonomous navigation, lunar night survivability, icy regolith excavation, and construction tasks.