ISSN:
1573-7527
Keywords:
microrover
;
rocker-bogie
;
autonomous navigation
;
hazard avoidance
;
solid silica aerogel
;
radio modem
;
remotely operated vehicle
;
mobility
;
planetary rover
;
planetary vehicle
;
solar array/battery power system
;
integrated power control electronics
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Computer Science
,
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
Notes:
Abstract When the Mars Pathfinder (MPF) spacecraft lands on Mars, the Microrover Flight Experiment (MFEX) will be deployed and perform its mission to conduct technology experiments verifying the engineering design, to deploy an alpha proton x-ray spectrometer (APXS) to measure elemental properties of rocks and soil, and to image the MPF lander. In accomplishing this mission the MFEX rover must determine a safe path to goal locations traversing over a poorly known Martian surface. The rover does this mission with a capable mobile platform executing on-board autonomous functions of navigation and hazard avoidance. In this paper we describe the rover, its operational environment and the implementation of the on-board autonomous functions.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00710795
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