Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Dr. Matt Robinson is a leading figure in planetary robotics and extraterrestrial sample acquisition, whose work has been instrumental in the success of NASA’s most ambitious Mars missions. His primary research focuses on the engineering challenges of robotic arm operations and sampling systems in extreme off-world environments. Dr. Robinson’s most significant contribution is his leadership on the Sampling and Caching Subsystem (SCS) for the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, a complex system designed to collect and seal Martian rock and regolith samples for potential return to Earth—a landmark paper on this system has garnered over 134 citations. Earlier, he played a critical role on the Mars Phoenix Lander mission, where his work on the Robotic Arm experiment (cited 132 times) enabled the first-ever acquisition and analysis of icy soil from the Martian arctic. His expertise in rover safety is also notable; his work on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) ensures that the Curiosity rover can safely navigate and sample without risking damage from slip or settling. Through these achievements, Dr. Robinson has directly shaped humanity’s ability to physically interact with other worlds.