Researchers use LLM in 'AI Space Cortex' to automate robotic extraterrestrial exploration

Businesses may be struggling to find meaningful ways to use artificial intelligence software, but space scientists at least have a few ideas about how to deploy AI models.

Researchers affiliated with Caltech, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, UCLA, and engineering consultancy Okean Solutions are busy exploring how AI models can be used to run autonomous operations during space missions.

They call their project AI Space Cortex. It's an attempt to design an AI-assisted autonomy framework capable of handling the various tasks required to take samples from the surface of alien worlds, ranging from site selection to sample collection and depositing samples in scientific instruments.

NASA's Robust, Explainable Autonomy for Scientific Icy Moon Operations (REASIMO) effort conducted the project, using funding from NASA’s Concepts for Ocean Worlds Life Detection Technology (COLDTech) program. It reflects work intended to support a future mission like Europa Lander, a proposal to look ...