THE Physical AI Workshop in Spacewhich was held recently at Ion district in Houston, brought together leading scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and government leaders to explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in space exploration – a field poised to drive scientific discovery, economic growth and technological advancement .
Hosted by the Rice University Office of Innovation in partnership with NASA, Purdue University and Ion, the two-day event attracted more than 200 guests who discussed a wide range of topics related to applications of AI in the space industry.
Rice President Reginald DesRoches welcomed attendees, emphasizing the importance of the event “for Texas and certainly for Houston.” Citing the city’s legacy of space exploration, DesRoches said “today’s event represents a pivotal moment” and noted how the workshop fosters vital collaboration across sectors to boost innovation in space.
NASA’s Nicholas Skytland provided an overview of the event, including the significance of its location in Houston, home to the Johnson Space Center, which has served as the epicenter of human spaceflight for more than six decades . Skytland discussed the growth of the space economy, highlighting Texas’ unique position as a hub for space technology and innovation, and encouraged attendees to explore how AI can streamline everything from spacecraft navigation to crew health management.
“This is just the beginning of this new era of space exploration,” Skytland said.
Sanjoy Paul, Executive Director of Rice nexusdirector of AI Houston and professor of computer science at Rice, was one of the main organizers of the event. Paul highlighted Rice’s potential to play a key role in implementing AI in space exploration, highlighting key areas of expertise where Rice researchers are making an impact.
Among several examples, Paul cited Kaiyu Hangwork on robotic manipulation ⎯ an essential aspect of maintaining autonomous spacecraft and risk-free spaceflight missions ⎯ and Vaibhav UnhelkarWork on human-robot collaboration.
“Our researchers are pushing the boundaries of what is possible,” he said.
Paul also highlighted that the workshop – now in its second year – was greatly enhanced by the collaboration with Purdue, whose Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence has an impressive roster of experts working on the he intersection of AI and a wide range of application areas.
Shirley Dyke, director of Institute for Resilient Extraterrestrial Habitats and Professor Don and Patricia Coates of Mechanical Engineering Innovation at Purdue, highlighted the enabling role these technologies will play in the autonomous operation of lunar and cislunar infrastructure.
“This workshop is a wonderful opportunity to share ideas on how the scientific community can work together to use AI to achieve the next generation of human spaceflight,” Dyke said.
Dyke was one of several Purdue researchers and staff members who helped organize the event. They understood Laurent BujaMarshall Porterfield, Shaoshuai Mou, Shreyas Sundaram and Ran Dai.
Norman Garza, executive director of the Texas Space Commission, took part in a fireside chat on the second day of the event and highlighted the critical role Texas government plays in ensuring the state cements its reputation as a leading destination for companies working in the field. the space industry.
“AI has been a theme regularly shared with the Texas Space Commission Board of Directors over the past several months,” Garza said. “Forums like this one hosted by Rice University certainly help provide a platform for conversation about how this innovation relates to space exploration.” The big ideas from subject matter experts serve the committee well as we work to present a strategic plan to the Texas Legislature. We welcome feedback through our website, Space.Texas.Gov.
The workshop highlighted the role that commercial companies play in today’s space exploration ecosystem. One of the panels dedicated to startups in this area included several Rice alumni who now run companies at the forefront of space-AI integration.
Anton Galvas, an alumnus of Rice’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business and CEO of AiKYNETIX, discussed his company’s AI-based technology for analyzing real-time human movement in space .
“Astronauts face unique physical challenges in microgravity,” Galvas explained, “and our technology provides immediate feedback to improve their movements and efficiency, which can be crucial to mission success.”
This tool, originally developed for fitness diagnostics, has evolved to help astronauts prevent injuries and optimize performance, demonstrating how AI innovations contribute to human health in space.
Martin Heyne, also a Jones School MBA alumnus and head of strategy at Intuitive Machines, shared his views on his company’s mission to build infrastructure in cislunar space. Intuitive Machines, responsible for creating lunar landers and rovers, has integrated AI to ensure safer and more precise landings on the moon. Heyne described how AI can address the challenges of previous missions, where slight deviations during landing impacted operations.
“Using AI, we can analyze landing trajectories in real time, providing alerts if adjustments are needed,” Heyne said. The company is also working to establish a lunar communications network to support future exploration with plans to deploy five satellites into lunar orbit over the next five years.
Rice mechanical engineering alumnus James Holley, co-founder of Novium, presented his work on space robotics. His company focuses on the complex mechanics required to move equipment in extreme space environments, where radiation and temperature fluctuations pose constant challenges.
“Our robotic technology is designed to operate in harsh conditions without direct human intervention,” Holley said. He noted that Houston’s rich history in space and Rice’s academic strengths in engineering create an ideal environment for aerospace innovation.
The workshop also addressed the ethical dimensions of AI, particularly regarding the accuracy and accountability of autonomous systems. As space exploration increasingly relies on AI, ensuring these systems work as intended becomes paramount.
Reflecting on the legacy of Houston’s space industry and the collaborative spirit of the Ion District, Paul expressed hope that AI-based solutions could open new possibilities for missions on the Moon and Mars and for human spaceflight in general.
“The potential applications of AI in space are limitless,” he said, “and through partnerships like these, Houston and Rice University are well-positioned to lead the way on this frontier exciting. »
- The videos are available on:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML9o1rIhdh8
Description: Artificial Intelligence in Space Exploration at Rice University
(Video by Brandon Martin/Rice University; additional images from Walley films)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iCOaTaDyRg
Description: Conference on physical AI in space at the Ion
(Video by Brandon Martin/Rice University) - Access associated media files:
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https://rice.box.com/s/fiu3gtxot0xplxar7xcabtt3bceicfl
CAPTION: Photos and videos from the event (Photos by Jeff Fitlow and Brandon Martin; videos by Brandon Martin)