GMV presenta LUPIN: una nueva era en la exploración lunar automatizada
After conducting field tests from April 27 to May 8 in the municipality of La Oliva (Fuerteventura), the technological multinational GMV has just presented the LUPIN project (Enabling High-Performance PNT in the Lunar Environment), an innovative initiative of the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at developing a navigation system prototype to simulate the future signals that rovers are expected to receive on the lunar surface. It is a navigation system similar to GPS for use on the lunar surface, which will allow users, such as rovers or astronauts, to have a navigation tool similar to Google Maps.
In a context of renewed interest in lunar exploration, the development of advanced technologies to support the activity of rovers, landing modules, and even human presence on the lunar surface has become a strategic priority for the space industry. In this framework, ESA promotes this pioneering project under the Navigation Innovation and Support Program (NAVISP), which will test new positioning, navigation, and time synchronization (PNT) techniques for lunar surface exploration and applications. These technologies will combine current planetary PNT methods with future distance measurement signals from the LCNS (Lunar Communication Navigation System), satellite signals that will be used in the same way that GPS signals are used on Earth, but with satellites orbiting around the Moon and adapted to different areas of interest (e.g., the lunar south pole, the far side, or regions with permanent shadow).
Current lunar navigation capabilities face significant limitations. Unlike Earth, the Moon does not have a satellite positioning infrastructure like GPS. This means that spacecraft and rovers cannot determine their location accurately in real-time, but must rely on internal calculations and data sent from Earth. To overcome these barriers, GMV has developed the LUPIN lunar navigation prototype for ESA. This technology will revolutionize how astronauts and vehicles operate on the lunar surface in the next decade. LUPIN will reduce the reliance on complex onboard relative location algorithms, optimizing the performance and efficiency of exploration vehicles on the lunar surface.
This advancement will not only improve precision but also enable faster and more efficient routes, while reducing the computational load dedicated to navigation. As a result, the speed limitations of the rover will be primarily determined by terrain conditions, rather than technical limitations, marking the beginning of a new era in automated lunar exploration.
During the campaign carried out in Fuerteventura, the real-time navigation system has been successfully verified and validated through various tests representing the conditions of future LCNS signals for precise positioning and location of a rover on the lunar surface.
At the presentation event held at the Lajares wrestling arena, the mayor of La Oliva, Isaí Blanco, emphasized «the honor for the La Oliva City Council to host such an innovative initiative as this project in our municipality. The success of these field tests demonstrates that the island, and specifically La Oliva, can host trials of this nature that represent a significant advancement for science, without compromising the care of our environment.»
For the Innovation Councilor of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, Rayco León, the island has proven to be a benchmark in aerospace technology, with important projects like those promoted by the Fuerteventura Technological Park that serve to diversify the economy in specialized fields. Therefore, it is important to continue developing projects in the field of innovation and for Fuerteventura to be the stage for an initiative like the one presented today.
Mariella Graziano, director of strategy and business development for Science, Exploration, and Transportation at GMV, and Steven Kay, project manager for LUPIN at GMV, were responsible for explaining the field test details. According to Steven Kay, «successfully over 7 km of travel data has been collected at different speeds, from the conventional 0.2 m/s to future fast speeds of 1.0 m/s. Additionally, different lunar environments and conditions have been simulated, including nighttime tests with a combination of simulated sunlight to mimic the lighting conditions on the moon, and also in total darkness using only onboard rover lighting for navigation.» «The team has been working hard in Fuerteventura conducting tests to support the development of a possible user segment PNT system capable of providing precise location information for future lunar missions. At GMV, we like to push the limits of technology and make the future become the present,» adds Mariella Graziano.
Current lunar navigation technologies and their limitations compared to terrestrial systems like Google Maps
Lunar exploration has advanced significantly since the first moon landings of the 20th century. Missions like NASA’s Artemis, China’s Chang’e modules, or India’s Chandrayaan use sophisticated technologies to navigate the lunar surface. However, these capabilities fall far short of offering the smoothness and precision we experience on Earth with applications like Google Maps.
Moon missions use a combination of inertial navigation systems (INS), optical cameras, altitude sensors (LIDAR), and digital maps generated by satellites in orbit. These maps allow for route planning with relative precision, identifying obstacles and areas of scientific interest, as well as executing landing maneuvers with increasingly reduced margin of error.
Furthermore, some modules are experimenting with limited autonomous navigation, using computer vision algorithms to compare real-time terrain with previously stored maps. This technology is particularly useful when there are delays in communications with Earth or when exploring regions on the far side of the Moon.
On the other hand, although lunar cartography has improved significantly, it remains incomplete and static. There are no real-time updates or information on changes in terrain caused by recent impacts or movements of lunar dust. Communication depends on direct visibility with Earth or the use of relay satellites in lunar orbit, creating communication shadow zones and latency times that hinder immediate decision-making.
In contrast, systems like Google Maps function thanks to a global network of GPS satellites, constant mobile connectivity, sensors in millions of devices, and dynamic updates. We can know our exact position instantly, receive directions with metric precision, and access information about the environment such as traffic, services, or changes in terrain. These functionalities require a planetary infrastructure that simply does not exist on the Moon.
