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NASA astronaut Megan McArthur floats in the Japanese Experiment Module on ISS with three cube-shaped free flying robots.
The VIPER Rover being assembled in the Johnson Space Center Integration and Test Facility
The Super Ball Bot, a tensegrity-based robot, is deployed at the NASA Ames Roverscape.

Intelligent Robotics Group

The Intelligent Robotics Group (IRG) explores extreme environments, remote locations, and uncharted worlds. We conduct applied research in computer vision, geospatial data systems, human-robot interaction, planetary mapping, and robot software. 

IRG has developed the Astrobee free-flying robot, the “K-Rex” and “K10” series of planetary rovers, and the Spherical Underactuated Planetary Exploration Robot Ball (SUPERball) Bot tensegrity robot. We conduct robotic field tests in planetary analog sites, such as Black Point Lava Flow and Haughton Crater and release our experimental data to the community.

We are committed to collaboration. If you are interested in working together, please contact us today.

Learn More about Intelligent Robotics Group

Location

Moffett Field, CA

Founded

1999

People

35

Group LEad

Matthew Deans

IRG Information and Resources

Summaries of recent projects that our group has contributed to.

Recent Projects

The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), the Integrated System for Autonomous and Adaptive Caretaking (ISAAC), StreamFlow, the Ames Stereo Pipeline (ASAP), and the Ocean Worlds Autonomy Testbed for Exploration, Research, and Simulation (OceanWATERS)

Inside of an underground subway station, two firefighters carry a robot mounted inside of a trapezoid-shaped wireframe toward a blazing fire. There is a subway car to the firefighters’ right, highlighted by the red, yellow, and orange hue of a fire in the background. The robot helps firefighters and other first responders protect their lives and the lives of others by investigating hazardous situations.

Archived Projects

IRG has a long history of developing, testing, and flying robots and related technologies. Explore our past projects

Outreach and Media

See our robots in action and listen to news about our projects and researchers in national and local media

Software and Datasets

We make as much of our software and data available to the public as possible. Access our software and dataset downloads

Publications

Get more in-depth information about the work we do

A group of people from the Intelligent Robotics Group at NASA Ames Research Center pose around a NASA logo.

Group Members

Current IRG staff and organization

Logo for Intelligent Robotics Group (ARC)

Alumni

Former group members and contributors