Abstract DGP2026-26

This presentation explores the feasibility and potential of deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for geophysical subsurface surveying on extraterrestrial bodies such as the Moon and Mars. It outlines how aerial platforms equipped with lightweight magnetometers, ground-penetrating radar, hyperspectral imagers, and gravimetric sensors could unlock new modes of planetary resource assessment and geological characterization. The discussion highlights unique challenges absent on Earth — including low-gravity flight dynamics, extreme temperature cycles, dust interference, radiation exposure, communication delays, and the need for fully autonomous navigation without GPS.

Beyond their mobility advantages, airborne robotic platforms hold great potential for geophysical data acquisition on planetary surfaces. By flying at very low altitudes and following terrain-adaptive trajectories, UAVs can acquire dense, spatially coherent datasets that bridge the resolution gap between orbital remote sensing and point-based lander or rover measurements. This capability is particularly valuable for geophysical methods that benefit from controlled sensor height and continuous coverage, such as magnetic field mapping, shallow subsurface radar sounding, and gravity gradient measurements.

Airborne robotics also enable repeat-pass surveys over the same area, supporting time-lapse observations of dynamic processes, which are difficult to capture with static surface instruments.

The integration of geophysical sensing with autonomous airborne robotics supports adaptive, science-driven exploration strategies. Onboard processing and machine learning–based feature detection can allow UAVs to modify flight paths in response to preliminary geophysical anomalies, prioritizing regions of high scientific or resource interest without direct human intervention.

The presentation concludes with a roadmap for integrating UAV-based surveys into future robotic and human exploration missions, emphasizing the transformative potential of aerial geophysics in low-gravity environments.