Our Mission: Charting the Future of Autonomous Navigation

Welcome to Beyond The Joystick, your professional resource dedicated to the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and autonomous rover navigation.

The 20-minute communication lag to Mars isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s the fundamental reason this field exists. We can’t simply “joystick” rovers on other worlds. They must think, perceive, and act on their own.

Our mission is to explore and explain the complex technologies, from SLAM algorithms to perception sensors, that allow robotic explorers to navigate independently. We bridge the gap between complex academic theory and real-world application, covering missions from Mars to the Moon and projects you can build on your own workbench.

Meet The Founder

Ever since I first discovered how machines could sense and interact with their environment, I’ve been fascinated by the challenge of building intelligent systems capable of exploring — and understanding — the unknown. That curiosity naturally evolved into a passion for aerospace engineering and autonomous robotics, fields where technology and exploration meet.

I’m currently pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, where I also serve as an engineer and team leader in PoliSpace, the university’s student space association. Within RoverTech, I design and program the locomotion and sensing systems of our Mars rover prototype, working primarily with embedded systems (STM32, C, Rust) and sensor integration. In parallel, I lead the IT Team, developing internal tools and managing project workflows — experiences that have honed both my technical and leadership skills.

I created this platform to share practical insights, technical guides, and reflections at the intersection of robotics, autonomy, and space exploration. My goal is to make advanced topics approachable while maintaining the depth and rigor they deserve — building a community for those who, like me, believe that autonomy is the next frontier of exploration.

You can find my professional profile on LinkedIn

Support The Mission

Writing high-quality articles takes time and coffee. If you want to support Beyond The Joystick and keep the servers running, you can offer me a virtual coffee. No pressure, just gratitude!

What We Cover: From Core Concepts to Advanced AI

To help you find what you need, our content is organized into several key categories.

[Core Concepts]: We break down the “what” and “why” of autonomous navigation.

[Advanced Topics & Future]: We look ahead to swarm robotics, autonomous science, and other cutting-edge challenges.

[Sensors & Hardware]: A deep dive into the “eyes and brains” of rovers, from LiDAR to Rad-Hard CPUs.

[Algorithms & AI]: We explore the “how,” from pathfinding (like A* and D* Lite) to Visual Odometry.

[Missions & Case Studies]: We analyze real-world examples, from NASA’s Perseverance to the upcoming VIPER.

[Projects & Tutorials]: Hands-on guides to help you build your own mini-rover with ROS 2.

Start Your Journey

Whether you are a student, a professional engineer, or a curious space enthusiast, we are glad you’re here.

The best place to start is with our foundational pillar post:

The Ultimate Guide to Autonomous Rover Navigation