Andreas Gibbesch

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

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About

Andreas Gibbesch is a leading figure in planetary robotics and multi-body system simulation, whose work has been instrumental in advancing the mechanical design of extraterrestrial exploration systems. His primary research focuses on developing sophisticated contact modeling techniques and mobility concepts for rovers and landers operating on low-gravity planetary bodies. Gibbesch’s most influential contribution, the "Soft Soil Contact Modeling Technique for Multi-Body System Simulation" (2011, 45 citations), provides a critical framework for accurately predicting rover-terrain interaction, enabling engineers to optimize performance on challenging surfaces like loose regolith. This simulation environment was successfully applied to the ExoMars project for rover performance analysis. Notably, Gibbesch played a key role in the development of the MASCOT (Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout) lander for JAXA’s Hayabusa-II mission. This 10 kg innovative hopping mechanism was designed to explore the C-type asteroid 1999 JU3, demonstrating a novel approach to low-gravity mobility. Through his integration of multi-body dynamics with contact simulation, Gibbesch has directly shaped the design and evaluation of autonomous, reconfigurable robotic systems for planetary exploration.