RISE
Autonomous charging infrastructure for Mars drone operations
Project Mission
The mission of RISE (Recharge Infrastructure for Surface Exploration) is to create reliable, autonomous energy infrastructure that keeps Mars exploration drones operational in harsh extraterrestrial environments. Our charging stations will serve as critical infrastructure for sustained surface missions, enabling extended exploration that expands humanity's presence on Mars.
Core Systems
Battery Hot-Swapping
Docking mechanisms with automated recognition and robotic arms for drone battery exchange
Solar Energy Charging
Sun-tracking solar panels with continuous charging systems and power management
Autonomous Maintenance
Automated solar panel cleaning and system monitoring with diagnostic logging capabilities
About the Project
Our team is developing a modular, solar-powered charging base station for Mars that enables autonomous hot swapping of drone batteries. Built to NASA mission standards, this station will provide critical infrastructure for sustained Mars exploration by allowing drones to seamlessly exchange depleted batteries for charged ones without human intervention.
The station features continuous solar charging with sun tracking, automated maintenance systems that keep solar panels clean, and intelligent power management to maintain fully charged batteries. Our approach involves designing for Mars conditions while building Earth-based prototypes to test and validate the most critical mission components. We're currently in the requirements development phase, with mechanical, avionics, and software teams working together to define the technical specifications needed for Mars deployment.
Project Timeline
Summer 2025
ActiveDesigning and prototyping modular charging base stations for Mars. Developing technical requirements and building Earth-based systems for autonomous drone battery hot-swapping.
Fall 2025
FutureExpanding to complete drone system development. Building full Mars exploration drones that integrate with our charging infrastructure for end-to-end autonomous operations.