Samantha (Sami) Raines is a Robotics Engineer with an inventor’s spirit and builder’s mentality, dedicated to leveraging technology to positively impact the world. She holds a Master’s in Computer Science, specializing in robotics and artificial intelligence, and works within the domains of Ocean and Space Robotics.

A key contributor to the development of ‘Roo-ver’, Australia’s first lunar rover, Samantha advanced robotic exploration of the lunar surface through her expertise in autonomous systems and computer vision. She has contributed to global initiatives such as the United Nations Ocean Decade and has worked on projects supporting whale conservation and ghost net detection. Her professional experience includes autonomous systems and remote operations in Australia, with a focus on robotics for remote and harsh environments. In the aviation industry, Samantha has worked on Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems and predictive maintenance, integrating advanced technologies to enhance safety and performance.

In addition to her Master’s, Samantha is a graduate of the International Space University (ISU), where she studied human spaceflight and life sciences, space exploration, and space systems engineering and technologies. As part of her final project at ISU, she co-authored a paper titled Space Assets and Technology for Bushfire Management, which provided recommendations on procuring lightning-specific sensors for satellites, using space assets to detect vegetation, topography, and moisture content in at-risk areas, and adapting space-based Life Support System technologies to enhance firefighting protective equipment.

Driven by a desire to push the boundaries of technology, Samantha is committed to exploring both the depths of the ocean and the vastness of space for the benefit of our planet.