India’s space agency is preparing to expand the way planetary missions explore difficult terrains. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has issued a new tender to procure advanced quadruped robotic systems designed to operate on the challenging surfaces of the Moon and Mars.
The agency is seeking to acquire 3 four-legged robots that can navigate rough and uneven landscapes where traditional wheeled rovers often struggle. These robotic systems mimic animal-like movement, allowing them to adapt better to rocky, cratered and irregular terrain commonly found on planetary bodies.
According to the tender requirements, the machines must remain lightweight while maintaining operational strength. Each robot should weigh no more than 30 kg but still be capable of carrying a scientific payload of up to 5 kg.
This balance is important for space missions where launch mass limits are strict. At the same time, the robots must be able to carry instruments required for conducting scientific experiments and surface analysis.
ISRO has also defined clear performance standards for these quadruped robots. The systems must achieve a top speed of 1.5 m/s, enabling faster movement across the lunar or Martian regolith.
The robots should also be capable of climbing slopes of up to 25°. This capability will allow them to explore steep crater rims, rocky slopes and volcanic structures where wheeled rovers may lose traction or become stuck.
Autonomous navigation is another key feature required for the robots. Due to communication delays between Earth and distant planetary bodies, the machines must be capable of making independent decisions during exploration.
To support this, the robots will be equipped with advanced sensors such as multi-line LiDAR for accurate mapping and depth cameras for real-time obstacle detection. These systems will help the robots create internal maps of the terrain and choose safe and efficient paths while moving.
The tender also includes the computing infrastructure required to operate and train these robotic systems. ISRO has requested high-end workstations and laptops designed to support reinforcement learning training.
This indicates that machine learning could play a major role in improving the robots’ movement patterns and adaptability over time, helping them respond better to unpredictable terrain conditions during missions.
Additionally, the procurement includes specialised telecommand systems based on the Robot Operating System (ROS) framework. This standardised platform will allow engineers to communicate with the robots, send commands and receive mission data efficiently.
By introducing quadruped robotic systems into future missions, ISRO is aiming to strengthen its planetary exploration capabilities and tackle terrains that are difficult for conventional rovers.
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