Claudia Pernechele
Papers
1
Total Citations
5
H-Index
1
About
Claudia Pernechele is a leading figure in planetary exploration and robotic systems, with a primary focus on the autonomous investigation of extraterrestrial caves and lava tubes. Her most influential work, the DAEDALUS mission concept (Descent And Exploration in Deep Autonomy of Lava Underground Structures), proposes a compact, spherical robotic device designed to explore the entrances and initial segments of lunar lava tubes. This concept, published in 2021 and garnering 5 citations, addresses a critical challenge in space science: how to autonomously navigate and characterize subsurface environments that could serve as habitats for future human missions or as pristine geological archives. Pernechele’s contributions lie in integrating a complementary payload set with advanced autonomy, enabling the robot to operate in low-light, unstructured terrains without real-time human control. Her work is pivotal for advancing in-situ resource utilization and astrobiology, as lava tubes offer protection from radiation and micrometeorites. By pushing the boundaries of robotic exploration, Pernechele is shaping the next generation of missions to the Moon and Mars, inspiring students and researchers to consider the profound scientific and engineering challenges of exploring the unknown underground.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1