Space Robotics Research & Analog Testing
Simulate the Moon and Mars on Earth
High-Fidelity Planetary Exploration Support
Space missions leave no room for error. To succeed "out there," you need to break things "down here" first. We provide reliable, ROS-native mobile platforms that serve as the perfect testbeds for planetary exploration. Whether you are developing autonomous navigation for a lunar rover or testing swarm intelligence for Mars, our hardware allows you to skip the tedious build phase and jump straight into your mission-critical research.
Challenges: The High Cost of Terrestrial Testing
Building a space-grade prototype from scratch for every terrestrial experiment is a massive drain on time and budget. Researchers often face a tough choice: use fragile "toy" robots that can’t handle real-world terrain, or invest in overly expensive, proprietary systems that are hard to modify. Without a modular, rugged, and open-source base, the transition from lab algorithms to field-ready results is slow and prone to hardware failure.
A Scalable Ecosystem for Off-World Research
We offer a versatile duo designed to cover the full spectrum of space research. Leo Rover is our agile "scout"—perfect for multi-agent systems, swarm robotics, and rapid testing of AI vision in tight spots. For tasks requiring more "muscle," Raph Rover steps in with its high payload capacity, allowing you to mount heavy planetary drills, complex robotic arms, or advanced life-support sensors. Both rovers share a fully open-source DNA and ROS/ROS2 compatibility, ensuring that your software works seamlessly across different scales of hardware.
Use Cases
From European Space Agency (ESA) analog missions in the desert to university-led lunar habitat simulations. Explore how our rovers are helping the world's leading space organizations test the future of extra-planetary exploration.
Working with FLOX
Learn how a Leo Rover became just the robot poultry farms need.
CES 2019 Seagate booth – Impact Creative
Here's a bit about Turtle Rover as an exhibition robot at CES 2019 in Las Vegas.
Going to Fukushima
Here's how a Leo Rover got to map the radiation level in Fukushima, Japan.
Leo Rovers on display – a few words about a special custom project
Discover how Leo Rover robots turned into Martian rovers for a museum.
Leo Rover conquers the Moon once more – the final round of the Space Resources Challenge
See how the Leo Rover robots of the LUVMI-XR team tackled the finals of the Space Resources Challenge.
Reach for the stars in Luxembourg
Learn about the Interdisciplinary Space Master program at the University of Luxembourg.
Learn more about our products
Leo Rover
The Leo Rover is the robust mobile robotics platform engineered for demanding research, rapid prototyping, and hands-on education.
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Building on the proven success of its smaller brother Leo Rover, the Raph Rover is a new professional UGV platform that expands the limits of what compact robotics can achieve.
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Custom Robotics
Fictionlab's Custom Engineering Services go beyond simple modifications. While we specialize in extending the capabilities of the Leo Rover and Rapha Rover with bespoke software and specialized hardware, we also leverage our deep expertise to design and build entirely new, dedicated mobile robotic solutions based on your unique concepts.
Our engineering team provides the knowledge and experience necessary to transform your specific industrial or research idea into a high-performance, field-ready autonomous system. Partner with our experts to precisely tailor a solution or bring your groundbreaking robotics idea to life.
Learn more about Custom Robotics