Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Zack Moratto is a leading figure in autonomous space robotics and planetary geodesy, whose work bridges the gap between orbital exploration and in-space operations. His most influential contribution is the development of the localization system for **Astrobee**, NASA’s free-flying robot on the International Space Station (ISS). This system enables Astrobee to navigate autonomously using visual landmarks, allowing it to assist astronauts, run zero-gravity experiments, and transport payloads—a foundational achievement for future autonomous spacecraft. Moratto’s 2016 paper on this work has garnered 33 citations, reflecting its impact on the field of robotic localization in microgravity. Beyond the ISS, Moratto is a key architect of the **NASA Ames Stereo Pipeline (ASP)** , a suite of automated geodesy and stereogrammetry tools. The ASP processes planetary images from orbiters and landers, enabling high-precision 3D mapping of Mars, the Moon, and other celestial bodies. His 2020 release of version 2.7.0, with 9 citations, underscores the tool’s enduring utility for planetary scientists. By combining real-time robot navigation with planetary-scale mapping, Moratto has advanced both the practical and exploratory frontiers of space robotics.