DET contributes to the development of Etna, Italy’s new rover for lunar exploration
DET contributes to the development of Etna, Italy’s new rover for lunar exploration
The Department of Electronics and Telecommunications (DET) at Politecnico di Torino has contributed to the development of Etna, Italy’s new rover designed to test key technologies for future lunar exploration missions. The rover’s name was recently selected by the public through an Instagram poll promoted by the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
Etna has been developed within the Universal Locomotion System (ULS) programme, fully funded by ASI and coordinated by Thales Alenia Space, with contributions from Leonardo, the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), ALTEC, AIKO, Volta Structural Energy, and the PIC4SeR Interdepartmental Centre at Politecnico di Torino.
In recent weeks, the rover successfully completed a new testing campaign on the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. The site’s steep terrain, granular surface and lack of vegetation closely resemble several characteristics of the lunar environment, making it an ideal natural testbed. These field trials followed an initial validation phase carried out at ALTEC’s facilities in Turin.
The name Etna, which stands for Exploration Technology for Navigation & Autonomy, identifies a robotic platform designed to operate autonomously in challenging environments. During the testing campaign, the rover demonstrated autonomous and teleoperated navigation capabilities, while validating its localisation, mapping and path-planning algorithms, electrical power and distribution subsystem, and real-time monitoring and control interface. The platform also proved its ability to reconfigure itself following simulated failures, such as wheel or steering malfunctions, a key capability for long-duration space missions.
DET’s contribution was coordinated by Prof. Marcello Chiaberge, faculty member of the Department, Coordinator of the PIC4SeR Interdepartmental Centre, and Politecnico di Torino’s scientific lead for the project. The research team developed some of the rover’s most innovative payloads, including an autonomous drone for terrain reconnaissance and classification, as well as a sensor deployment system designed to release instruments onto the lunar surface. The team also supported Thales Alenia Space in developing the rover’s modular onboard architecture for power and data management.
Additional technologies demonstrated during the campaign included systems for lunar regolith collection, autonomous docking with a charging station, and automatic battery recharging. These capabilities are essential for enabling long-duration robotic missions with minimal human intervention and for supporting future lunar surface operations.
The ULS programme aims to provide a flexible robotic platform for testing innovative technologies, prototypes and scientific experiments in environments analogous to the Moon, fostering collaboration between research institutions and industry while accelerating technology transfer for the next generation of space exploration missions.
“The ULS project further demonstrates our region’s ability to combine research excellence and technological innovation in the space sector. Through this initiative, we have not only developed an innovative vehicle but also established an industrial and scientific team specialising in planetary surface robotics, capable of supporting important future developments,” said Prof. Marcello Chiaberge, faculty member of the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Coordinator of the PIC4SeR Interdepartmental Centre, and Politecnico di Torino’s scientific lead for the project.