Roy Lichtenheldt
Papers
14
Total Citations
231
H-Index
6
About
Roy Lichtenheldt is a leading figure in planetary robotics, specializing in terramechanics and locomotion systems for extraterrestrial exploration. His work is central to understanding how robots move on granular, sandy terrains—a critical challenge for missions to Mars, the Moon, and asteroids. Lichtenheldt made a landmark contribution as a key developer of the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP³) for NASA’s InSight mission, which achieved the first-ever measurement of Mars’ planetary heat flow (146 citations). He also leads the development of the MMX rover locomotion system for JAXA’s Martian Moons eXploration mission, designed to traverse the low-gravity surface of Phobos (21 citations). His innovative research includes screw-driven robots for sand locomotion and the SoilContact Model (SCM), a novel simulation tool for wheel-soil interaction that has become a standard in rover design (10 citations). Lichtenheldt established the DLR Terramechanics Robotics Locomotion Lab and the Moon-Mars Test Site, providing essential facilities for testing planetary rovers. His work directly enables safer, more capable autonomous exploration of our solar system’s most challenging terrains.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1The Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) for the InSight Mission146 citations · 2018
- 2MMX - Development of a Rover Locomotion System for Phobos21 citations · 2020
- 3Enabling Autonomous Locomotion into Sand - A Mobile and Modular Drilling Robot11 citations · 2016
- 4
- 5SCREW-DRIVEN ROBOT FOR LOCOMOTION INTO SAND8 citations · 2017
- 6
- 7The DLR Terramechanics Robotics Locomotion Lab6 citations · 2018
- 8Toolchain for a Mobile Robot Applied on the DLR Scout Rover5 citations · 2022
- 9
- 10The DLR Moon-Mars Test Site for Robotic Planetary Exploration4 citations · 2024