AUTONOMOUS DECISION MAKING IN VERY LONG TRAVERSES (ADE)

Since November, the ADE team performed the preparatory tests to validate the vast majority of the rover’s onboard systems: as localization, perception, guidance, manipulation of the robotic arm in motion, FDIR, dynamic planning, and scientific agent.

The robotic platform used in ADE, DFKI’s SherpaTT rover, has successfully executed all on-board SW commands in the testing scenario 6mX6m sandbox used as a test environment located at the DFKI facility, Bremen. Due to mobility restrictions caused by the Covid pandemic, these tests are conducted remotely, from the GMV control center in Madrid

DFKI’s SherpaTT rover in the sandbox

These preliminary tests were aimed to validate and verify that the different subsystems work properly before the final Field test in Fuerteventura is performed (in a Mars analogue environment).

In planetary exploration missions, ADE will guarantee a quick response and optimum use of onboard resources, and perform autonomous long traverse surface exploration (kilometers per day), taking decisions autonomously.

Sandbox 6*6 at Bremen DFKi´s facilities