Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Brooke M. Bensche is a pioneering roboticist whose work focuses on field-reconfigurable mobility systems for extreme extraterrestrial terrains. Her key research areas include modular robotics, lunar exploration, and adaptive locomotion for non-wheeled platforms. Bensche’s major contribution is the development of the WORMS (Walking Oligomeric Robotic Mobility System) concept, a revolutionary approach to lunar mobility that replaces traditional wheels with reconfigurable, walking robots capable of navigating the Moon’s most challenging environments—such as permanently shadowed regions, lava tubes, and steep cliffs. This work, born from the 2022 NASA BIG Idea Challenge, directly supports the Artemis program’s goal of establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon. Her two most-cited papers, published in 2022 and 2023, have garnered 14 citations combined, reflecting growing interest in her innovative, non-wheeled designs. Bensche’s research not only addresses the limitations of conventional rovers but also opens new possibilities for infrastructure development and exploration in extreme lunar terrain, positioning her as a rising leader in space robotics.