Matt Martone

Carnegie Mellon University, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Dr. Matt Martone is a robotics researcher specializing in bio-inspired locomotion, extreme-terrain mobility, and planetary exploration. His work bridges the gap between animal-inspired design and the harsh realities of off-world environments. Martone is best known for developing T-RHex, a cockroach-inspired hexapod robot augmented with microspine feet, which enables it to climb vertical surfaces while maintaining rapid, agile movement on flat ground—a significant advance over slow, cautious climbing robots. This work, published in 2019, has garnered 10 citations and demonstrates a novel approach to multi-terrain versatility. In parallel, Martone has tackled the unique challenges of icy extraterrestrial environments, such as those on Europa or Enceladus. His 2018 study on an ice screw end effector and sample collection tool, with 6 citations, addresses the need for robust anchoring and subsurface sampling in low-gravity, icy terrains. By combining principles from biology and field robotics, Martone’s contributions are paving the way for more capable rovers that can traverse cliffs, craters, and frozen moons—expanding the frontiers of both terrestrial and space exploration.