Welcome to My Space Robotics Journey
I'm excited to share my passion for space exploration and robotics with you. Let's embark on this exciting journey together!
Who am I ?
I am Sivaperuman Muniyasamy, a third-year Ph.D. Student and NASA MSTAR Student Researcher at the University of Arizona's SpaceTREx laboratory. I lead a 5-member team, focusing on lunar development and developing autonomous robotic systems for construction, mining, and warehouse automation. My research, supported by NASA funding, spans orbital dynamics, control systems, and space robotics. I have contributed to lunar base operations simulation and autonomous construction projects. With a Master's degree from IIT Kanpur and a Bachelor's from Madras Institute of Technology, I have an extensive publication record covering topics like orbital dynamics, spacecraft swarms, and lunar architectures.
VISION
As a Space Robotics researcher, I aim to advance space exploration and resource utilization through sustainable methods. My vision is to develop cutting-edge autonomous systems and smart architectures for efficient lunar and asteroid operations, supporting human advancement in space. By focusing on innovative solutions using multi-robot coordination and control, and distributed computing networks, I strive to facilitate space exploration while addressing Earth's resource challenges. I envision a future where autonomous robotic systems work seamlessly with astronauts, enabling sustainable lunar, mars bases and deep space exploration.
- City: Tucson, USA
- Degree: PhD in Aerospace Engineering
- Email: sivaastro@arizona.edu
My Journey
Experience
Education
Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, US
2022 - Present
Thesis title: Coordination and control of a decentralized network of robots to handle time-sensitive tasks.
M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India
2019 - 2021
Thesis title: Orbital Dynamics and Control of a Spacecraft around an Asteroid.
B.E in Aeronautical Engineering, Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University Chennai, India
2014 - 2018
Project title: Collision Avoidance System for Light Aircraft (DST funded)
Grants/Awards/Internships/SME
System Engineer, Lunar Bric consortium
2022-Present
- System Engineer in Lunar Bric consortium that has several experts from NASA Centers, Industries, and academic institutions in the USA and Canada
Technical Panelist at AIAA Scitech 2025
2025
AIAA Scitech 2025, Orlando.
- Served as a Technical Panelist (Titled: Lunar Construction using Regolith-Filled Bags") among scientists from various NASA centers who are leading lunar missions at one of the biggest aerospace conferences, AIAA SciTech on Lunar Construction
NASA MSTAR Student Researcher
2022-2024
- Designated by NASA HQ as a NASA M-STAR student researcher to develop autonomous systems to support NASA Artemis mission.
NASA MIRO Internship
2022-2024
- Designated by NASA HQ as a NASA MIRO intern/Scholar, I have been mentoring undergraduate and master students to develop space technologies to support NASA priorities and goals.
NASA Arizona Space Grant Student Mentor/Advisor
2023 - 2024
- Selected by Arizona NASA's Space Grant for the best research proposal to mentor an undergraduate student in simulating lunar surface operations using sensor networks.
Center for Technology Development and Transfer (CTDT)
2017 - 2018
- Received a grant from the Department of Science and Technology for the best research proposal among 1000+ students, July 2017, Anna University, Chennai, India.
Professional Experience
Entrepreneurship Lead, Team Lunar-Bric, Regional NSF I-Corps Program
2024 - Present
Regional NSF I-Corps
- Currently serving as an Entrepreneurship lead to commercializing one of our research products, sandbags, to address NASA's number one highest priority to solve lunar night survival listed on NASA civil space shortfall.
- Developed hypothesis and conducted interviews with lead experts on the Lunar world like NASA, ISRO Intuitive machine, Blue Origin, and other industries to see whether our product could solve the most pressing challenge of lunar night survival.
Graduate Research Assistant
2022 - Present
SpaceTREx Laboratory, University of Arizona
- Currently leading a student team of eight members to develop autonomous systems for lunar research and development supporting NASA's Artemis mission.
- Constructed a sandbox test facility to simulate lunar surface characteristics for testing autonomous robotic systems.
- Designed and developed smart sandbags as building blocks for lunar construction to establish a sensor network assisting lunar surface assets: robots, astronauts, and lunar landers.
- Developed a lunar base software model to simulate multiple lunar surface operations utilizing sensor networks, distributive computing, and a network of small robots.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
2024 - Present
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona.
- Assisting in developing curriculum and teaching materials for the course AME 209 Computer Programming in AME with MATLAB and Python
- Teaching programming in MATLAB for 150+ undergraduate students
- Assisting in developing assignments and their rubric for AME 250 dynamics
Project Management Associate
2021 - 2022
Tamil Nadu School Education Department, Tamil Nadu Government, India.
- As a team lead for capacity building, organized multiple workshops and online lectures with Professors from prestigious institutes in India like IITs and IISc for 1000 teachers from the model schools.
- Contributed towards policy-making to engage multiple stakeholders and functioning of Model Schools with state-level head officers.
Jury for YOUNG SCIENTIST INDIA competition
2020 - 2021
Spacekidz, India.
- Served as a jury member for the YOUNG SCIENTIST INDIA competition (2020-2021) conducted by Space Kidz India.
Research Areas
Primary Focus
Lunar Development and Robotics
- Autonomous robotic systems for lunar construction and mining
- Lunar base operations simulation and emergency response
- Smart architectures for lunar bases using distributed computing
- Multi-robot coordination and control for lunar applications
Space Robotics and Automation
- Decentralized networks of robots for time-sensitive tasks
- Sensor networks and IoT for space applications
- Machine learning and AI for space robotics
- Digital twin technology for space systems
Additional Expertise
Orbital Dynamics and Control
- Spacecraft dynamics around asteroids and irregular bodies
- Gravitational modeling and perturbation analysis
- Fuel-efficient control techniques for space missions
- Formation control for spacecraft swarms
Space Resource Utilization using multi-agent
- Asteroid mining techniques and technologies
- In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for lunar and Mars missions
Interested in collaborating on these research areas? Contact me to discuss potential opportunities.
