Researchers at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) are advancing autonomy algorithms that could revolutionize the transport of cargo on the Moon. This initiative is a collaborative effort led by MDA Space, featuring significant input from Professor Tim Barfoot and Ph.D. candidate Alec Krawciw. The objective is to facilitate navigation for Canada”s proposed lunar utility vehicle as it moves between cargo drop-off points during upcoming lunar missions, addressing a critical transportation challenge once astronauts land on the lunar surface.
According to Barfoot, who also directs the U of T Robotics Institute, lunar exploration presents distinct transportation hurdles. He noted that the landing site for shuttles is typically flat to ensure safe arrival, while the habitat location is often five kilometers away and shielded from radiation, usually by rocky terrain. Consequently, astronauts must transport all supplies from the shuttle to their habitat. Unlike previous planetary missions where rovers roamed freely, the lunar utility vehicle will operate on a fixed route, making repetitive trips between designated locations. This marks a pioneering approach for space rovers, and Barfoot”s visual teach-and-repeat navigation framework is ideally suited for this task.
Barfoot explained, “Teach-and-repeat algorithms allow us to pilot the rover along a predetermined path by manually or physically driving it; however, once it learns the path, it can autonomously repeat the route as many times as required.”
Krawciw, as part of his doctoral research, is modifying this self-driving technology for the Canadian Space Agency“s test vehicle, the Lunar Exploration Light Rover (LELR). In December 2024, they planned to test their autonomous system at a Montreal facility designed to simulate the Martian surface.
Krawciw noted that adapting their algorithms to the LELR posed unforeseen difficulties. He mentioned that simulating lunar conditions introduced a five-second delay in command and feedback, which necessitated the development of a new semi-autonomous teaching strategy utilizing shorter path segments. Following a successful field trial, the team was selected by the Canadian Space Agency in July 2025 to conduct an early-phase study for the proposed lunar utility vehicle, which is part of the agency”s initiative for lunar surface exploration and Canada”s next contribution to NASA”s Artemis program.
As preparations for the vehicle”s mission continue, Krawciw is concentrating on enhancing system performance under real-world conditions to ensure its readiness for prolonged operational deployments.
