So how do you build a robot destined for the Moon? Well, one of the most important steps is closing the business model. In order to do that you must decrease cost, increase revenue, and have a strong PR presents, and that is exactly what the JURBAN team is doing.

So what are we doing to reduce cost?
• Using open source, sponsored, or student software (something we can do since we are the only 100% student engineered team). Some examples of the software we are using include: THORIUM, Autodesk Inventor & Autodesk 3ds, Alitum Designer(Sponsored by Altium*), Libero, ModelSim, OpenGl, OpenCV, and Player Stage
• Using COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) components, and providing a fairly “normal” operating environment via radiation shielding and tight thermal regulation. Some examples of the hardware we are using include: Sony FCB-EX1010, Gravity Development Board(Sponsored by Solar System Express**), Altium Nanobaord 3000 (Thanks again to our sponsor Altium), and finally a Software Defined Radio from our “TOP SECRET” supplier. You will know who they are after we land on the Moon :)
• Unlike other teams, we can capitalize on “economy of scale” since we will have at least 10 copies of our robot going to the Moon. And this doesn’t count the multiple prototypes, and commercial spin-off copies we are aligning.

Now how about revenue? Well we can’t give everything away but here is a quick highlight.
• A Moon Pie worldwide PR & fundraising campaign
• JURBAN has started a Design Service team, which pays its student members to develop small engineering tools for local start-ups.Taking a percentage to support Mission Moon.
• Raytheon has donated $1,000
• The Chrysler Foundation has donated $10,000
• Grass root funding through established websites.
• Many other Moon related partnerships are in the works.

* The Altium Nanoboard 3000 has allowed JURBAN to prototype some of our system, and then we will transition to a Xillinx space hardened FPGA

**Solar System Express has donated it’s Gravity Development Board for prototyping of the JURBAN robot. This easy to use, high level hardware prototyping system will allow even the youngest/inexperienced team members to test navigation and control algorithms.