The lunar south pole presents extreme terrain and environmental challenges, including low illumination, abrasive dust, steep slopes, and deep shadowed regions. These conditions limit the ability of conventional rovers to reach scientifically important sites. This paper presents the research based conceptual and unique design of a mother–daughter rover system developed for reliable mobility, autonomous navigation and multi-stage sample collection in this environment. The mother rover provides the primary mobility platform, power system, and subsurface drilling capability, while the daughter rover accesses hazardous or confined areas for surface sampling. Dust-resistant wheels, a hybrid solar–battery power architecture, and thermal protection systems support continued operation under south-pole conditions. The perception suite integrates cameras, environmental sensors, and motion estimation to support terrain mapping and hazard avoidance. A complete workflow for subsurface drilling, surface sample retrieval, transfer, and insulated storage is also demonstrated. System limitations and opportunities for future improvement are highlighted based on component level and energy budget analysis.
Track: Senior Design Project / FYP Competition
Published in: 8th IEOM Bangladesh International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Publisher: IEOM Society International
Date of Conference: December 20
-21
, 2025
ISBN: 979-8-3507-4441-5
ISSN/E-ISSN: 2169-8767