Juliana Barstow

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Juliana Barstow is a pioneering researcher in bio-inspired robotics and planetary exploration, specializing in novel locomotion mechanisms for extreme environments. Her major contributions center on developing autonomous robots that can traverse challenging terrains, from lunar surfaces to planetary caves and lava tubes. Barstow’s most notable work includes the Fengaribot, a pill bug-inspired robot that combines crawling and rolling locomotion for lunar exploration, designed to carry scientific instrumentation to otherwise inaccessible destinations. Her 2023 paper on this concept has garnered 4 citations and includes a video presentation demonstrating its innovative design. Additionally, her 2022 research on the ARES robot—a rotationally symmetric, spring-based autonomous system for navigating planetary caves—has earned 3 citations and showcases her focus on rotational symmetry for enhanced mobility. Barstow’s work is highly impactful for future space missions, offering practical solutions for autonomous exploration in harsh, low-gravity environments. Her achievements highlight a unique blend of biological inspiration and engineering ingenuity, positioning her as a rising leader in the field of extraterrestrial robotics.