Space Robotics Laboratory

What Space Robotics Laboratory does

The Space Robotics Laboratory (宇宙探査工学研究室 / 宇宙ロボット研究室) is an academic research laboratory within the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. Established in the mid-1990s and led by Professor Kazuya Yoshida, the lab conducts fundamental and applied research on the dynamics and control of space robots, including free-flying manipulators, space station-mounted robotic systems (JEMRMS), and lunar/planetary exploration rovers. The lab maintains one of the longest continuous research programs in free-flying space robot control in the world, originating with orbital experiments on the ETS-VII Engineering Test Satellite in 1997-1999 and continuing through contributions to the Hayabusa asteroid sample-return mission.

The lab's output portfolio spans three principal lines: (1) simulation software, principally the SpaceDyn MATLAB Toolbox and its SpaceDynX clone for multibody dynamics of articulated systems with moving bases; (2) small satellite hardware, with ten micro-satellites developed and operated between 2009 and 2019 (SPRITE-SAT/RISING, RAIKO, RISING-2, DIWATA-1, DIWATA-2, RISESAT, ALE-1, ALE-2 and others) ranging from 2U CubeSats to 50kg-class platforms; and (3) rover technologies for rough-terrain lunar and planetary mobility, including the Tetris and MoonRaker rovers developed under Team HAKUTO for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. The lab's innovations in reaction null-space control and generalized Jacobian matrix manipulation control are documented through publications and flight validation.

The lab operates on a non-commercial academic model: it is funded through Japanese government research grants (JAXA, MEXT) and Tohoku University allocations, generates no product revenue, and distributes its outputs via open-source academic software, peer-reviewed publications, student graduates who enter the aerospace industry, and technology transfer to partner organizations. Its primary 'customers' in a stakeholder sense are JAXA, the Tohoku University Graduate School of Science, ispace, the Philippines Space Agency/DOST, and the broader UNISEC university consortium. The lab's research has produced commercial outcomes indirectly, most notably through the founding of ispace in 2010 by former students and the development of the HAKUTO-R lunar lander program, for which the lab provides the underlying rover technology and engineering personnel.

Name

Space Robotics Laboratory

Website

https://astro.mech.tohoku.ac.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Space Robotics Laboratory is an academic research lab at Tohoku University (Sendai, Japan) that develops space robotics, lunar/planetary rovers, and micro-satellites, funded by Japanese government grants and serving JAXA, partner universities, and the global space engineering community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Robotics Research

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI), Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF), Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK), Robotics Learning Platforms (EDAFANAB)

Keywords

• Space robotics research
• Orbital robotics control
• Micro-satellite development
• Planetary exploration rovers
• Space dynamics simulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Sendai

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Funding: Government-funded research grants from JAXA, MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), and other Japanese government agencies for space robotics and satellite development projects
2. Educational Services: Graduate education programs including Mechanical Engineering Frontier program and International Joint Graduate Program, producing trained researchers and engineers for aerospace industry

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Space Robotics Laboratory is a university research laboratory at Tohoku University conducting research on dynamics and control of free-flying space robots, lunar and planetary exploration rovers, and small satellite development. It develops space robotics algorithms and prototypes, including the open-source SpaceDyn MATLAB toolbox for multi-body dynamics simulation, and has developed and operated 10 micro-satellites between 2009 and 2019.

Product overview

The Space Robotics Laboratory at Tohoku University is a university research laboratory focused on robotics for space science and exploration missions. The lab's product portfolio includes SpaceDyn, a MATLAB Toolbox for dynamics simulation; multiple micro-satellites including SPRITE-SAT/RISING, RISING-2, and RAIKO developed for scientific observation missions; lunar/planetary rovers including Tetris and MoonRaker for the HAKUTO Google Lunar XPRIZE team; and various research technologies from ETS-VII space robot experiments. The lab also contributes to collaborative satellite programs including the DIWATA satellites for the Philippines. The core offerings are research software tools and spacecraft/rover technologies rather than commercial products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SPRITE-SAT: Series of micro-satellites developed by the lab for scientific observation of sprites (upper atmospheric luminous events) and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes
• RISING
• RISING-2
• RAIKO (雷鼓)
• HAKUTO

Products and services

• SpaceDyn A free MATLAB Toolbox for kinematic and dynamic analysis and simulation of articulated multi-body systems with moving base, including satellites with mechanical appendages, free-flying space robots, wheeled mobile robots, and walking robots. Available for academic use.
• SPRITE-SAT (RISING) A 50cm cube, approximately 50kg micro-satellite for scientific observation of sprites (transient luminous events in the middle atmosphere) and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGF) from orbit.
• RISING-2 (雷神2) Successor micro-satellite to SPRITE-SAT/RISING with various improvements and new technologies for atmospheric and Earth observation missions.
• RAIKO (雷鼓) A 2U-CubeSat (10x10x20 cm) that operated in orbit capturing images and conducting 100kbps high-speed communication experiments.
• DIWATA-1 The first Philippine microsatellite, developed in collaboration with Tohoku University, for Earth observation purposes.
• DIWATA-2 Second Philippine microsatellite featuring advanced target pointing capability for typhoon eye observation and Earth imaging.
• Tetris Rover A 2kg micro rover for lunar exploration featuring 3D-printed super-strength plastic wheels and tether-based cave exploration capability, part of Team HAKUTO's Google Lunar XPRIZE entry.
• MoonRaker Rover A lunar exploration rover developed by Team HAKUTO for the Google Lunar XPRIZE, designed to work in conjunction with the Tetris rover via tether system.
• Lunar/Planetary Exploration Rover Technology Research and development on rough terrain mobility and traction control for lunar and planetary rovers, including rocker-bogie suspension systems and dynamics simulation.
• ETS-VII Space Robot Experiments Flight experiments conducted on Japan's Engineering Test Satellite VII, the world's first free-flying space robot, demonstrating manipulator operations, reactionless control, and inertial manipulation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully developed and operated 10 micro-satellites in orbit over 10 years (2009-2019)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ispacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Technology transfer and collaboration with ispace (formerly White Label Space Japan) for HAKUTO lunar rover development. Prof. Yoshida's lunar rover research forms the technological basis for ispace's rover development. Graduates from the lab work as engineers at ispace, supporting HAKUTO-R lunar missions.
• JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration with JAXA on space robotics experiments (ETS-VII, JEMRMS), Hayabusa asteroid sample return mission, and micro-satellite piggyback launch program. JAXA provides launch opportunities and technical collaboration for research.
• UNISEC (University Space Engineering Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of UNISEC, aNPO supporting student-based space engineering activities including ARLISS, CubeSat projects, and USSS symposium. Lab actively participates in all UNISEC activities.
• Philippines Space Agency / DOSTmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of Philippines' first micro-satellites DIWATA-1 (2016) and DIWATA-2 (2018) for Earth observation and typhoon monitoring. Technical collaboration including joint development with Hokkaido University.
• Hokkaido UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on DIWATA-2 satellite development with Tohoku University for Philippines. Joint development of Philippines' second satellite.
• International Space UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipation in ISU Summer Session Programs (SSP), including robot building competitions and educational outreach activities.
• Tohoku University Graduate School of SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of SPRITE-SAT/RISING and other micro-satellites combining engineering and science research objectives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MIT Space Systems Laboratory: MIT's space robotics research group working on autonomous spacecraft, astrobee, and formation flying. Closely comparable academic peer in the same niche of university-led space robotics and control algorithm development.
• Surrey Space Centre (University of Surrey): U.K. university centre with strong small-satellite and space robotics heritage. Direct peer in combining academic research with end-to-end smallsat mission delivery, comparable to Tohoku's micro-satellite program.
• ispace: Japan-based commercial lunar exploration company founded in 2010 by former students of Prof. Yoshida. It commercialized the lab's lunar rover research for the Google Lunar XPRIZE and is now operating the HAKUTO-R lunar lander program, making it the lab's most direct commercial spinoff and closest peer.
• Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute: Top-tier U.S. academic robotics institute with strong space and field robotics programs (Lunar Rover Initiative, NASA collaborations). Closely comparable in combining fundamental robotics research with hands-on space system development.
• Stanford Space Robotics and Teleoperators Lab: Stanford's research group focused on space robotics, autonomous manipulation, and human-robot interaction. Comparable academic peer working on the same frontier of space robot dynamics and control with similar publication-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency): Japan's national space agency and the lab's primary long-standing partner. JAXA provides launch opportunities via the H-IIA piggyback program, co-funds ETS-VII and Hayabusa-related research, and operates at vastly larger scale across the full space value chain.
• Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Space & Surveillance): Norwegian group with a space division covering small satellites, propulsion, and space robotics subsystems. Comparable as a European player combining research-driven space hardware with commercial customer delivery.
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Robotics): U.S. government space robotics research center operating at much larger scale. JPL develops Mars rovers, autonomous spacecraft, and orbital manipulation systems with deep overlap to the lab's free-flying robot and planetary rover programs.
• DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics: German Aerospace Center's robotics division working on planetary rovers, manipulator control, and orbital robotics. Overlaps directly with the lab's free-flying space robot, lightweight manipulator, and planetary exploration programs but at much larger institutional scale.

Emerging players

• Astrobotic Technology: U.S. commercial lunar lander and rover company that overlaps with the lab's planetary rover expertise. Represents the commercial lunar market into which the lab's spinoff (ispace) and its graduates are now competing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=Ux5scFbjlW4
• Facebookfacebook.com/Professor.Kazuya.Yoshida
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/space-robotics-laboratory

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Space Robotics Laboratory