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This must be one of the most demanding projects you could tackle, requiring Uber-Masters of embedded technology. A distant planet. Autonomous navigation.... I'm talking about the European
Mars Rover.It is being developed by Astrium under an ESA-NASA cooperation "ExoMars" programme, which sees two inter-planetary missions. The first, in 2016, involves a preparatory Entry, Descent & Landing Demonstrator (EDL), but the second, in 2018, involves a sample-caching rover developed by NASA as well as the European ESA ExoMars rover, aka "Bridget".
Why do I mention this? Well, it is going to the Red Planet in 2018, but the prototype is first coming to the un-Martian Earls Court Centre as part of Embedded Live, 19-21 October.
If you want to take a closer look at Bridget, marvel at the prototype, and talk to some of the team behind the rover, set your co-ordinates for West London.
The rover's primary task will be to search for evidence of life, past or present, by drilling a couple of metres beneath the surface of Mars. It will also collect data to identify potential risk factors for future manned missions, determine water distribution on Mars, and analyse on-board the chemical composition of the planet's surface...
Incorporating flight performance stereo cameras an autonomous navigation system, the ExoMars rover will apparently be far more independent than current rovers - able to move faster and select its own route to the next point of interest, making best use of the terrain. The idea is that, once given the next "target", Bridget will make her own way there, with no further control commands.
Bridget's Vital Statistics:
- Body Width: 1.20m
- Body Length: 1.65m
- Height to Solar Array: 1.00m
- Height with Mast: 2.00m
- Solar Array: 2m x 2m
- Weight with Solar Array: 154kg
Astrium has developed several breadboard models to prepare a number of engineering solutions for the ExoMars mission. These have been used extensively for the developement and testing of the locomotion, suspension and steering systems. In addition, the breadboard models incorporate on-board processing and navigation systems which allow the rover to 'drive itself'For more information, see http://embedded-live.com/
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