To The (Digital) Moon: Element Robotics Selected as Finalist in Australia's First AI and Robotics Sprint
Announcement posted by OnlyForward 10 Jul 2025
MELBOURNE, VIC - Element Robotics has been selected as one of the six finalists in the inaugural Propel-AIR program, Australia's first dedicated AI and Robotics Sprint.
The Melbourne space robotics company will now compete for the opportunity to travel to MassRobotics in Boston, the global epicenter of robotics innovation, with its LunarSim digital twin platform.
Proven Technology with Growing Demand
Element Robotics' flagship LunarSim platform allows mission designers to test, train, and refine robotic systems for lunar conditions without physical hardware.
"Think of it as a digital twin of the Moon and the robot you'll send," said Tenzin Crouch, Co-founder and former Royal Australian Air Force Engineering Officer. "Put them together and you can verify your system, train your team, and build mission confidence before launch."
Below - Element Robotics Rover Model 2 in virtual testing
LunarSim was created to address limitations of existing lunar simulation tools, which are typically built in-house, customised for single missions, and based on limited open-source frameworks. "Mission assurance requires thousands of hours of testing. Without simulation, you're stuck with costly and slow physical testing. LunarSim changes that," said Tenzin.
The platform delivers faster, lower-cost testing and system validation to increase mission assurance, with long-term potential for high-risk
terrestrial applications in mining and remote operations.
Commercial Traction Across Key Sectors
Element Robotics applications include:
- Simulation-as-a-service in space robotics for software validation and operator training (also while building synthetic datasets for AI perception testing)
- Terrestrial application modelling such as underground mines, offshore sites, and remote operations
Future applications span exploration, mining, construction and maintenance operations from earth to the moon and beyond
Accelerating Commercial Growth
The team secured Australian Government funding through the Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grant. The MVP is under development for delivery by March 2026. Through Propel-AIR, Element Robotics is validating its business model while refining investment materials and exploring terrestrial applications across multiple sectors
.
"We're building the infrastructure to support fleets of lunar robots. Propel-AIR is helping us prepare LunarSim for commercialisation here on Earth and in space," Tenzin said.
The winner of the Robotics Sprint travels to Boston for a one-month residency with MassRobotics. This includes access to companies like Boston Dynamics and iRobot, plus world-class institutions like MIT and Harvard.
ENDS
About Element Robotics
LunarSim is a digital simulation tool created by Element Robotics to help teams test and train robots for Lunar missions. It works like a virtual environment, letting you see how robots will perform in lunar conditions before anything is built or launched. This approach saves time and money and improves mission success rates. It also has future uses beyond space in high-risk industries like mining and remote operations.
Media Contacts:
Tenzin Crouch
Co-founder, Element Robotics
Email: tenzin.crouch@elementrobotics.space
Angela Reed,
ARM Hub Director Marketing and Memberships
