Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Scott Howe is a visionary in the field of in-situ resource utilization and robotic construction for planetary exploration. His pioneering work centers on developing autonomous systems to build infrastructure on the Moon and Mars using local materials. Howe’s most significant contribution is the Freeform Additive Construction System (FACS), which leverages the highly articulated ATHLETE robot as a precision positioning tool for large-scale 3D printing of structures directly on extraterrestrial surfaces—a concept he detailed in his 2013 paper (39 citations). He has also advanced the practicalities of sustaining off-world colonies, notably through his 2015 study on water extraction on Mars (18 citations). For habitat assembly, Howe proposed the PASSTUBE, a scalable, six-degree-of-freedom pressurized docking adapter designed to connect multiple volumes in a space outpost. His most recent work, the High-capacity ATHLETE Offloader Mobility Constructor (2020), reimagines the ATHLETE platform for the Artemis era, enabling it to offload heavy habitats from landers and traverse rugged terrain. With a career dedicated to turning science fiction into engineering reality, Howe’s research provides the foundational blueprints for humanity’s permanent expansion into the solar system.