About Us
CLAWS is an interdisciplinary project team at the University of Michigan. Our 5 core teams—Development, Hardware, UX, Research, and Business—work together to design augmented reality interfaces for astronauts. Development is split into AR, AI, and Web teams, with AR leading feature development for the main application. Hardware team designs and builds peripherals to support the AR system. Business includes Social, Outreach, Finance, and Content teams with additional support to Research for grants and technical studies. UX collaborates with all teams to create intuitive designs and evaluate XR applications with a focus on human factors.
We present our yearly findings at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
The team structure begins with the Project Manager and Technical Project Manager. They drive club operations on both the business and development side. This year, Anirudh Annavarapu and Molly Maloney take up the mantle, and continue to reinvent the team into more collaborative and productive ways. With a retreat and a new NASA competition in the works, 2025-2026 is shaping up to be one of our most exciting years yet!
The team structure begins with the Project Manager and Technical Project Manager. They drive club operations on both the business and development side. This year, Anirudh Annavarapu and Molly Maloney take up the mantle, and continue to reinvent the team into more collaborative and productive ways. With a retreat and a new NASA competition in the works, 2025-2026 is shaping up to be one of our most exciting years yet!
The Executive Board acts as experienced members / advisors to the team for ongoing support throughout onboarding and development. They help bridge the gap between Subteam Leadership and new members. Leadership drives operations and project workflow, with the fall focusing on onboarding and the winter focusing heavily on development. Each subteam has its own approach, but weekly cross-team sessions and clear handoffs—plus rotating highlights and shared onboarding—keep everyone aligned. Feature development begins in onboarding and integrated into an MVP for winter semester.
The team is committed to maintaining an inclusive and diverse environment for all students across all disciplines. With a wide range of majors across colleges, the perspectives new members bring is invaluable. CLAWS frequently hosts team social events throughout the year, including Friendsgiving, movie nights, CLAWS Olympics, Hackathons, boba trips, and more. The club has presented at several conferences, including the XR @ Michigan Summit, UX@UM Conference, UMSI Convocation, and the U-M Space Symposium. The team also puts on several outreach events each year to teach K-12 students about science, technology, and space exploration.
The Executive Board acts as experienced members / advisors to the team for ongoing support throughout onboarding and development. They help bridge the gap between Subteam Leadership and new members. Leadership drives operations and project workflow, with the fall focusing on onboarding and the winter focusing heavily on development. Each subteam has its own approach, but weekly cross-team sessions and clear handoffs—plus rotating highlights and shared onboarding—keep everyone aligned. Feature development begins in onboarding and integrated into an MVP for winter semester.
The team is committed to maintaining an inclusive and diverse environment for all students across all disciplines. With a wide range of majors across colleges, the perspectives new members bring is invaluable. CLAWS frequently hosts team social events throughout the year, including Friendsgiving, movie nights, CLAWS Olympics, Hackathons, boba trips, and more. The club has presented at several conferences, including the XR @ Michigan Summit, UX@UM Conference, UMSI Convocation, and the U-M Space Symposium. The team also puts on several outreach events each year to teach K-12 students about science, technology, and space exploration.
The team structure begins with the Project Manager and Technical Project Manager. They drive club operations on both the business and development side. This year, Anirudh Annavarapu and Molly Maloney take up the mantle, and continue to reinvent the team into more collaborative and productive ways. With a retreat and a new NASA competition in the works, 2025-2026 is shaping up to be one of our most exciting years yet!
The Executive Board acts as experienced members / advisors to the team for ongoing support throughout onboarding and development. They help bridge the gap between Subteam Leadership and new members. Leadership drives operations and project workflow, with the fall focusing on onboarding and the winter focusing heavily on development. Each subteam has its own approach, but weekly cross-team sessions and clear handoffs—plus rotating highlights and shared onboarding—keep everyone aligned. Feature development begins in onboarding and integrated into an MVP for winter semester.
The team is committed to maintaining an inclusive and diverse environment for all students across all disciplines. With a wide range of majors across colleges, the perspectives new members bring is invaluable. CLAWS frequently hosts team social events throughout the year, including Friendsgiving, movie nights, CLAWS Olympics, Hackathons, boba trips, and more. The club has presented at several conferences, including the XR @ Michigan Summit, UX@UM Conference, UMSI Convocation, and the U-M Space Symposium. The team also puts on several outreach events each year to teach K-12 students about science, technology, and space exploration.
SUITS
SUITS
SUITS
As NASA launches the Artemis program for sustained human presence on the moon and ultimately, Mars, engineers are considering what technology will best aid astronauts to safely and successfully complete their missions. Today, the Mission Control Center at NASA relays all pertinent information to the crew via a voice loop. In the future, communication delays upwards of 20 minutes to the surface of Mars will require crew members to have more autonomy.
As NASA launches the Artemis program for sustained human presence on the moon and ultimately, Mars, engineers are considering what technology will best aid astronauts to safely and successfully complete their missions. Today, the Mission Control Center at NASA relays all pertinent information to the crew via a voice loop. In the future, communication delays upwards of 20 minutes to the surface of Mars will require crew members to have more autonomy.
Stemming from NASA’s foundational Joint-AR project, the NASA SUITS Challenge tasks university teams with developing AR interfaces for lunar astronauts, and pressurized rovers for assisting them. The helmet display is designed to support astronauts with navigation, task management, vitals tracking, geological sample logging, and communication between mission control and another Universities rover.
At the end of each year, 10 university teams are selected as finalists from their written proposals. NASA scientists, engineers, designers, and astronauts evaluate the student-built projects, providing feedback. Past presenters have included teams from Stanford, Duke, USC, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, UT-Austin, Northeastern University, Purdue University, Columbia University, Boise State University, and many more.
SUBTEAMS
SUBTEAMS
AR Team
The AR Team focuses on developing the user interface within Unity using MRTK3. They are responsible for building front-end AR features with Unity-specific functionalities such as spatial interactions, gesture controls and input logic tailored for augmented reality environments.
Web Team
The Web Team is responsible for building and maintaining the core technical infrastructure for CLAWS. This includes connecting our AR application with NASA’s telemetry server, our partner university’s Pressurized Rover, and our planned and established internal systems.
AI Team
The AI Team ideates, develops, and integrates AI features that interface with the AR application. Team members explore and implement key AI concepts such as computer vision, natural language processing, and machine learning to create interactive and adaptive experiences.
Hardware Team
The Hardware Team designs, builds, and implements devices that interface with the AR application. Members learn and apply skills in CAD, 3-D printing, electronics, circuit design, and programming to prototype and translate their designs into working devices.
UX Team
The UX Team designs the visuals and plans the functionality for the AR application and peripheral devices. Members focus on determining the scope of features, conducting human factors research, designing consistent UIs in Figma, and carrying out user testing of designs.
Research Team
The Research Team will build a VR simulation of last year’s project to evaluate how effectively it assists users with navigation. We’ll deliver a functional prototype, conduct literature reviews, design and run participant studies, and analyze the results. In collaboration with our faculty advisor, we’ll prepare and submit our findings to appropriate research venues and NASA.
Finance Team
The Finance Team is responsible for procuring funds for all events, merch, hardware components, and other needs for the club throughout the year. Grant applications play a key role in obtaining these funds, with a large number of deadlines occurring in the first semester.
Outreach Team
The Outreach Team leads CLAWS’ external communications and manages the planning and execution of outreach events. As a key part of CLAWS’ AR initiatives and educational efforts, the team works to engage communities both locally and beyond. Outreach members will be coordinating a variety of events that could form lasting relationships with organizations, schools, and other teams.
Content Team
The Content Team is responsible for creating, managing, and posting content related to all aspects of CLAWS. The Content team will collaborate closely with all subteams to make sure everything is well promoted and documented.
Social Team
The Social Team is responsible for fostering connections among members and ensuring that CLAWS remains a fun and engaging community. Social Team members organize at least one event each month, giving the team plenty of opportunities to connect outside of work. Past events have included a BBQ, a trip to the apple orchard, and a MasterChef event!
AR Team
The AR Team focuses on developing the user interface within Unity using MRTK3. They are responsible for building front-end AR features with Unity-specific functionalities such as spatial interactions, gesture controls and input logic tailored for augmented reality environments.
Web Team
The Web Team is responsible for building and maintaining the core technical infrastructure for CLAWS. This includes connecting our AR application with NASA’s telemetry server, our partner university’s Pressurized Rover, and our planned and established internal systems.
AI Team
The AI Team ideates, develops, and integrates AI features that interface with the AR application. Team members explore and implement key AI concepts such as computer vision, natural language processing, and machine learning to create interactive and adaptive experiences.
Hardware Team
The Hardware Team designs, builds, and implements devices that interface with the AR application. Members learn and apply skills in CAD, 3-D printing, electronics, circuit design, and programming to prototype and translate their designs into working devices.
UX Team
The UX Team designs the visuals and plans the functionality for the AR application and peripheral devices. Members focus on determining the scope of features, conducting human factors research, designing consistent UIs in Figma, and carrying out user testing of designs.
Research Team
The Research Team will build a VR simulation of last year’s project to evaluate how effectively it assists users with navigation. We’ll deliver a functional prototype, conduct literature reviews, design and run participant studies, and analyze the results. In collaboration with our faculty advisor, we’ll prepare and submit our findings to appropriate research venues and NASA.
Finance Team
The Finance Team is responsible for procuring funds for all events, merch, hardware components, and other needs for the club throughout the year. Grant applications play a key role in obtaining these funds, with a large number of deadlines occurring in the first semester.
Outreach Team
The Outreach Team leads CLAWS’ external communications and manages the planning and execution of outreach events. As a key part of CLAWS’ AR initiatives and educational efforts, the team works to engage communities both locally and beyond. Outreach members will be coordinating a variety of events that could form lasting relationships with organizations, schools, and other teams.
Content Team
The Content Team is responsible for creating, managing, and posting content related to all aspects of CLAWS. The Content team will collaborate closely with all subteams to make sure everything is well promoted and documented.
Social Team
The Social Team is responsible for fostering connections among members and ensuring that CLAWS remains a fun and engaging community. Social Team members organize at least one event each month, giving the team plenty of opportunities to connect outside of work. Past events have included a BBQ, a trip to the apple orchard, and a MasterChef event!
AR Team
The AR Team focuses on developing the user interface within Unity using MRTK3. They are responsible for building front-end AR features with Unity-specific functionalities such as spatial interactions, gesture controls and input logic tailored for augmented reality environments.
Web Team
The Web Team is responsible for building and maintaining the core technical infrastructure for CLAWS. This includes connecting our AR application with NASA’s telemetry server, our partner university’s Pressurized Rover, and our planned and established internal systems.
AI Team
The AI Team ideates, develops, and integrates AI features that interface with the AR application. Team members explore and implement key AI concepts such as computer vision, natural language processing, and machine learning to create interactive and adaptive experiences.
Hardware Team
The Hardware Team designs, builds, and implements devices that interface with the AR application. Members learn and apply skills in CAD, 3-D printing, electronics, circuit design, and programming to prototype and translate their designs into working devices.
UX Team
The UX Team designs the visuals and plans the functionality for the AR application and peripheral devices. Members focus on determining the scope of features, conducting human factors research, designing consistent UIs in Figma, and carrying out user testing of designs.
Research Team
The Research Team will build a VR simulation of last year’s project to evaluate how effectively it assists users with navigation. We’ll deliver a functional prototype, conduct literature reviews, design and run participant studies, and analyze the results. In collaboration with our faculty advisor, we’ll prepare and submit our findings to appropriate research venues and NASA.
Finance Team
The Finance Team is responsible for procuring funds for all events, merch, hardware components, and other needs for the club throughout the year. Grant applications play a key role in obtaining these funds, with a large number of deadlines occurring in the first semester.
Outreach Team
The Outreach Team leads CLAWS’ external communications and manages the planning and execution of outreach events. As a key part of CLAWS’ AR initiatives and educational efforts, the team works to engage communities both locally and beyond. Outreach members will be coordinating a variety of events that could form lasting relationships with organizations, schools, and other teams.
Content Team
The Content Team is responsible for creating, managing, and posting content related to all aspects of CLAWS. The Content team will collaborate closely with all subteams to make sure everything is well promoted and documented.
Social Team
The Social Team is responsible for fostering connections among members and ensuring that CLAWS remains a fun and engaging community. Social Team members organize at least one event each month, giving the team plenty of opportunities to connect outside of work. Past events have included a BBQ, a trip to the apple orchard, and a MasterChef event!
AR Team
The AR Team focuses on developing the user interface within Unity using MRTK3. They are responsible for building front-end AR features with Unity-specific functionalities such as spatial interactions, gesture controls and input logic tailored for augmented reality environments.
Web Team
The Web Team is responsible for building and maintaining the core technical infrastructure for CLAWS. This includes connecting our AR application with NASA’s telemetry server, our partner university’s Pressurized Rover, and our planned and established internal systems.
AI Team
The AI Team ideates, develops, and integrates AI features that interface with the AR application. Team members explore and implement key AI concepts such as computer vision, natural language processing, and machine learning to create interactive and adaptive experiences.
Hardware Team
The Hardware Team designs, builds, and implements devices that interface with the AR application. Members learn and apply skills in CAD, 3-D printing, electronics, circuit design, and programming to prototype and translate their designs into working devices.
UX Team
The UX Team designs the visuals and plans the functionality for the AR application and peripheral devices. Members focus on determining the scope of features, conducting human factors research, designing consistent UIs in Figma, and carrying out user testing of designs.
Research Team
The Research Team will build a VR simulation of last year’s project to evaluate how effectively it assists users with navigation. We’ll deliver a functional prototype, conduct literature reviews, design and run participant studies, and analyze the results. In collaboration with our faculty advisor, we’ll prepare and submit our findings to appropriate research venues and NASA.
Finance Team
The Finance Team is responsible for procuring funds for all events, merch, hardware components, and other needs for the club throughout the year. Grant applications play a key role in obtaining these funds, with a large number of deadlines occurring in the first semester.
Outreach Team
The Outreach Team leads CLAWS’ external communications and manages the planning and execution of outreach events. As a key part of CLAWS’ AR initiatives and educational efforts, the team works to engage communities both locally and beyond. Outreach members will be coordinating a variety of events that could form lasting relationships with organizations, schools, and other teams.
Content Team
The Content Team is responsible for creating, managing, and posting content related to all aspects of CLAWS. The Content team will collaborate closely with all subteams to make sure everything is well promoted and documented.
Social Team
The Social Team is responsible for fostering connections among members and ensuring that CLAWS remains a fun and engaging community. Social Team members organize at least one event each month, giving the team plenty of opportunities to connect outside of work. Past events have included a BBQ, a trip to the apple orchard, and a MasterChef event!
PROJECTS
PROJECTS
AURA • 2024 - 2025
~~ Work in Progress ~~
IRIS • 2023 - 2024
~~ Work in Progress ~~
NOVA • 2022 - 2023
~~ Work in Progress ~~
HOSHI • 2021 - 2022
~~ Work in Progress ~~
ATLAS • 2020 - 2021
ATLAS was our first iteration of the SUITS Challenge, built for the Microsoft HoloLens 2 in collaboration with U-M’s BLiSS project team. Its modular, compact design streamlined access to mission critical information via protocols tailored to various Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) stages: mission planning, suit prep, sample collection, repairs, emergencies, and abort procedures. Astronauts received navigation support and vital readouts through the voice assistant VEGA. A Raspberry Pi–based Mobile Support Equipment (MSE) stack with sensors captured external data, and a Mission Control Center (MCC) developed alongside BLiSS’s Hab-Cap project maintained reliable system-wide data flow. QR codes surfaced location context on demand and–paired with voice input–enabled hands-free interaction. Emergency alerts and preconfigured abort protocols coordinated between MCC and ATLAS to communicate biometrics efficiently. Despite COVID-19 disruptions, the team successfully presented ATLAS at NASA and the Exploration Science Forum (ESF) virtually in May 2020. VEGA delivered core vitals functionality, though navigation and broader system support needed further refinement. Next steps mapped out included expanding MCC’s AR capabilities and tightening UI integration with the main application. Overall, ATLAS established a strong foundation for the team’s next iterations.
AURA • 2024 - 2025
~~ Work in Progress ~~
IRIS • 2023 - 2024
~~ Work in Progress ~~
NOVA • 2022 - 2023
~~ Work in Progress ~~
HOSHI • 2021 - 2022
~~ Work in Progress ~~
ATLAS • 2020 - 2021
ATLAS was our first iteration of the SUITS Challenge, built for the Microsoft HoloLens 2 in collaboration with U-M’s BLiSS project team. Its modular, compact design streamlined access to mission critical information via protocols tailored to various Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) stages: mission planning, suit prep, sample collection, repairs, emergencies, and abort procedures. Astronauts received navigation support and vital readouts through the voice assistant VEGA. A Raspberry Pi–based Mobile Support Equipment (MSE) stack with sensors captured external data, and a Mission Control Center (MCC) developed alongside BLiSS’s Hab-Cap project maintained reliable system-wide data flow. QR codes surfaced location context on demand and–paired with voice input–enabled hands-free interaction. Emergency alerts and preconfigured abort protocols coordinated between MCC and ATLAS to communicate biometrics efficiently. Despite COVID-19 disruptions, the team successfully presented ATLAS at NASA and the Exploration Science Forum (ESF) virtually in May 2020. VEGA delivered core vitals functionality, though navigation and broader system support needed further refinement. Next steps mapped out included expanding MCC’s AR capabilities and tightening UI integration with the main application. Overall, ATLAS established a strong foundation for the team’s next iterations.
AURA • 2024 - 2025
~~ Work in Progress ~~
IRIS • 2023 - 2024
~~ Work in Progress ~~
NOVA • 2022 - 2023
~~ Work in Progress ~~
HOSHI • 2021 - 2022
~~ Work in Progress ~~
ATLAS • 2020 - 2021
ATLAS was our first iteration of the SUITS Challenge, built for the Microsoft HoloLens 2 in collaboration with U-M’s BLiSS project team. Its modular, compact design streamlined access to mission critical information via protocols tailored to various Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) stages: mission planning, suit prep, sample collection, repairs, emergencies, and abort procedures. Astronauts received navigation support and vital readouts through the voice assistant VEGA. A Raspberry Pi–based Mobile Support Equipment (MSE) stack with sensors captured external data, and a Mission Control Center (MCC) developed alongside BLiSS’s Hab-Cap project maintained reliable system-wide data flow. QR codes surfaced location context on demand and–paired with voice input–enabled hands-free interaction. Emergency alerts and preconfigured abort protocols coordinated between MCC and ATLAS to communicate biometrics efficiently. Despite COVID-19 disruptions, the team successfully presented ATLAS at NASA and the Exploration Science Forum (ESF) virtually in May 2020. VEGA delivered core vitals functionality, though navigation and broader system support needed further refinement. Next steps mapped out included expanding MCC’s AR capabilities and tightening UI integration with the main application. Overall, ATLAS established a strong foundation for the team’s next iterations.
AURA • 2024 - 2025
~~ Work in Progress ~~
IRIS • 2023 - 2024
~~ Work in Progress ~~
NOVA • 2022 - 2023
~~ Work in Progress ~~
HOSHI • 2021 - 2022
~~ Work in Progress ~~
ATLAS • 2020 - 2021
ATLAS was our first iteration of the SUITS Challenge, built for the Microsoft HoloLens 2 in collaboration with U-M’s BLiSS project team. Its modular, compact design streamlined access to mission critical information via protocols tailored to various Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) stages: mission planning, suit prep, sample collection, repairs, emergencies, and abort procedures. Astronauts received navigation support and vital readouts through the voice assistant VEGA. A Raspberry Pi–based Mobile Support Equipment (MSE) stack with sensors captured external data, and a Mission Control Center (MCC) developed alongside BLiSS’s Hab-Cap project maintained reliable system-wide data flow. QR codes surfaced location context on demand and–paired with voice input–enabled hands-free interaction. Emergency alerts and preconfigured abort protocols coordinated between MCC and ATLAS to communicate biometrics efficiently. Despite COVID-19 disruptions, the team successfully presented ATLAS at NASA and the Exploration Science Forum (ESF) virtually in May 2020. VEGA delivered core vitals functionality, though navigation and broader system support needed further refinement. Next steps mapped out included expanding MCC’s AR capabilities and tightening UI integration with the main application. Overall, ATLAS established a strong foundation for the team’s next iterations.
Stemming from NASA’s foundational Joint-AR project, the NASA SUITS Challenge tasks university teams with developing AR interfaces for lunar astronauts, and pressurized rovers for assisting them. The helmet display is designed to support astronauts with navigation, task management, vitals tracking, geological sample logging, and communication between mission control and another Universities rover.
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At the end of each year, 10 university teams are selected as finalists from their written proposals. NASA scientists, engineers, designers, and astronauts evaluate the student-built projects, providing feedback. Past presenters have included teams from Stanford, Duke, USC, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, UT-Austin, Northeastern University, Purdue University, Columbia University, Boise State University, and many more.
As NASA launches the Artemis program for sustained human presence on the moon and ultimately, Mars, engineers are considering what technology will best aid astronauts to safely and successfully complete their missions. Today, the Mission Control Center at NASA relays all pertinent information to the crew via a voice loop. In the future, communication delays upwards of 20 minutes to the surface of Mars will require crew members to have more autonomy.
Stemming from NASA’s foundational Joint-AR project, the NASA SUITS Challenge tasks university teams with developing AR interfaces for lunar astronauts, and pressurized rovers for assisting them. The helmet display is designed to support astronauts with navigation, task management, vitals tracking, geological sample logging, and communication between mission control and another Universities rover.
At the end of each year, 10 university teams are selected as finalists from their written proposals. NASA scientists, engineers, designers, and astronauts evaluate the student-built projects, providing feedback. Past presenters have included teams from Stanford, Duke, USC, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, UT-Austin, Northeastern University, Purdue University, Columbia University, Boise State University, and many more.
SUBTEAMS
PROJECTS
About Us
About Us
CLAWS is an interdisciplinary project team at the University of Michigan. Our 5 core teams—Development, Hardware, UX, Research, and Business—work together to design augmented reality interfaces for astronauts. Development is split into AR, AI, and Web teams, with AR leading feature development for the main application. Hardware team designs and builds peripherals to support the AR system. Business includes Social, Outreach, Finance, and Content teams with additional support to Research for grants and technical studies. UX collaborates with all teams to create intuitive designs and evaluate XR applications with a focus on human factors.
We present our yearly findings at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
About Us
About Us
CLAWS is an interdisciplinary project team at the University of Michigan. Our 5 core teams—Development, Hardware, UX, Research, and Business—work together to design augmented reality interfaces for astronauts. Development is split into AR, AI, and Web teams, with AR leading feature development for the main application. Hardware team designs and builds peripherals to support the AR system. Business includes Social, Outreach, Finance, and Content teams with additional support to Research for grants and technical studies. UX collaborates with all teams to create intuitive designs and evaluate XR applications with a focus on human factors.
We present our yearly findings at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.