The rail system uses 'flying robots' to carry goods on the Moon

In NASA's new project, robots will hover on lunar rail tracks using "magnetic levitation" technology, transporting 100 tons of material each day.

NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program has selected six projects to help establish a long-term human presence on the lunar surface for funding and further development. These projects have completed Phase I of the NIAC program, demonstrating their potential, and have moved into Phase II, IFL Science reported on May 7.

Among these projects is FLOAT, managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), aimed at constructing a rail system with magnetic robots to transport goods. FLOAT could be operational within the next decade, expected to provide a reliable, automated, and efficient transportation solution. The system helps move tons of regolith (the layer of soil on the lunar surface). In the future, this soil could be mined to extract various materials for astronauts or lunar bases.

Ethan Schaler, a NASA robotics engineer, is leading the project and estimates the system could transport 100 tons of cargo daily. "FLOAT will operate autonomously in the dusty, harsh lunar environment. The preparation process at the site will be very simple, and the rail network can be rolled up or changed over time to meet the increasing demands of the lunar base development mission," he said.

The magnetic robots do not need power and will operate on a three-layer rail to push cargo trays at a speed of about 1.6 km/h. They have no moving parts and float above the rails using "magnetic levitation" technology to minimize wear from lunar dust, unlike traditional lunar robots which usually have wheels or legs.

"These diverse and science-fiction-like projects represent a superb group of research from Phase II. We are never ceased to be amazed and inspired. The new research group surely brings NASA much to ponder about what could happen in the future," shared John Nelson, director of the NIAC program.