Paulo Younse

About

Paulo Younse is a robotics and systems engineering researcher whose work spans planetary exploration robotics, autonomous systems, and model-based systems engineering (MBSE). Best known for his contributions to NASA-relevant space robotics, Younse has played a central role in advancing technologies for Mars sample return missions, developing innovative architectures for robotic sample acquisition, caching, and contamination prevention that directly inform future planetary science campaigns. His landmark TRESSA project (39 citations) pioneered the concept of teamed robots cooperating to access scientifically valuable but physically challenging terrain on steep planetary surfaces — a vision well ahead of its time. He further demonstrated end-to-end autonomous coring and caching systems and minimum-scale architectures that balance scientific capability with mass constraints critical to deep-space missions. Early in his career, Younse also contributed meaningfully to agricultural robotics, developing visual odometry and machine-vision navigation systems for autonomous greenhouse sprayers. In recent years, Younse has turned his expertise toward rigorously evaluating MBSE methodologies against traditional systems engineering approaches for complex robotic space systems, producing a series of influential comparative studies (collectively accumulating nearly 50 citations) that provide quantitative evidence for MBSE's advantages in knowledge management and information transfer. His diverse body of work reflects a career dedicated to making robotic systems smarter, more capable, and more rigorously engineered.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   TRESSA: Teamed robots for exploration and science on steep areas

   39 citations · 2007
2. 2
   Comparative analysis of a model‐based systems engineering approach to a traditional systems engineering approach for architecting a robotic space system through knowledge categorization

   29 citations · 2021
3. 3
   Sample acquisition and caching using detachable scoops for mars sample return

   15 citations · 2009
4. 4
   Greenhouse Robot Navigation Using KLT Feature Tracking for Visual Odometry

   13 citations · 2007
5. 5
   Comparative Analysis of Model-Based and Traditional Systems Engineering Approaches for Architecting a Robotic Space System Through Automatic Information Transfer

   12 citations · 2021
6. 6
   A minimum scale architecture for rover-based sample acquisition and caching

   10 citations · 2013
7. 7
   Demonstration of autonomous coring and caching for a Mars sample return campaign concept

   9 citations · 2012
8. 8
   Intersection Detection and Navigation for an Autonomous Greenhouse Sprayer using Machine Vision

   8 citations · 2005
9. 9
   Comparative analysis of model‐based and traditional systems engineering approaches for simulating a robotic space system architecture through automatic knowledge processing

   7 citations · 2022
10. 10
    Launchable and retrievable tetherbot exploration system

    5 citations · 2008

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links