Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Simon Tardivel is a leading space robotics researcher whose work centers on the exploration of small solar system bodies, including asteroids, Phobos, and Deimos. His primary contributions lie in developing locomotion systems and proximity operations for rovers in extreme low-gravity environments. Tardivel’s most impactful work is his involvement with the MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) mission, a collaborative effort between JAXA, CNES, and DLR. He authored the key paper on the rover’s locomotion system (21 citations) and a foundational study on the unique challenges of roving on Phobos (12 citations), addressing how to navigate the moon’s microgravity and irregular terrain. His research also extends to human exploration of near-Earth asteroids, where he designed architectures for proximity operations (7 citations). Notably, Tardivel has pioneered the use of Froude scaling for rover testing on small-body surfaces, enabling more accurate simulations of regolith interactions in low gravity. With a career focused on pushing the boundaries of extraterrestrial mobility, his work is critical to the success of upcoming missions that will unlock the secrets of Mars’ moons and other small bodies.