Propel-AIR finalist Element Robotics is helping Australia reach the moon

Melbourne-based start-up Element Robotics is playing a key role in sending the Australian-designed lunar rover – Roo-ver – to the Moon.

Roo-ver has been developed to operate on the lunar surface through NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. NASA has tasked Roo-ver with exploring the Moon’s surface and collecting data to advance global space science and exploration goals.

The Australian Government has invested $42 million to support the development, construction, and operation of Roo-ver.

Roo-ver is being designed, built, and operated by the EPE+ Lunar Outpost Oceania (ELO2) Consortium, in partnership with the Australian Space Agency.

The consortium brings together around 20 Australian organisations, ranging from space startups and small businesses to major resource companies, universities, and research institutions.

Element Robotics is leading the development of the rover’s autonomous driving system under the Trailblazer Stage 1 grant. The team is also advancing a sophisticated lunar multi-physics simulation tool to support mission planning and testing.

“During my studies in the United States, I joined a project called Moon Ranger and eventually led the development of the first autonomous lunar rover there,” said Tenzin Crouch, founder of Element Robotics.

“Hopefully we’ll soon be able to say that something I helped build is operating on the lunar surface.”

The rover will carry a NASA-developed payload – an analytical instrument designed to demonstrate cutting-edge technology for both scientific discovery and lunar exploration. These efforts will contribute to long-term initiatives to establish a human presence on the Moon.

About Element Robotics

Element Robotics, founded in 2022, specializes in autonomous robotics and software development. The company’s mission is to become a leading supplier of planetary autonomy technologies, supporting human space exploration while enhancing autonomous robotics capabilities on Earth.

The team brings together over 15 years of experience in robotics systems development, software and electronics engineering, and project management. Element Robotics offers end-to-end services for robot development, including design, system integration, and testing.

About Propel-AIR

Propel-AIR is Australia’s first dedicated AI and Robotics Sprint, designed to accelerate innovation and growth for startups and scaleups in the sector.

The program selects 10 companies to participate, culminating in a virtual pitch to an international panel of experts. Past winners, like Nexobot, have gained opportunities such as residencies at MassRobotics in Boston. All participants receive business development support, including venture capital mentoring, product-market fit assessments, and media exposure.

Through Propel-AIR, Element Robotics validated their business model and explored applications for terrestrial markets. Their long-term vision includes scaling LunarSim, their lunar simulation platform, for use in underground mines, offshore operations, and remote industrial environments.

“We’re building the infrastructure to support fleets of lunar robots. Propel-AIR helped us prepare LunarSim for commercialisation both on Earth and in space,” said Tenzin.