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    • First results from the ROBEX Demonstration Mission on Mt. Etna: Robotic deployment of seismic networks for future lunar missions

    Paper number

    IAC-17,A3,IP,31,x40040

    Author

    Dr. Armin Wedler, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Mallikarjuna Vayugundla, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Peter Lehner, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mrs. Hannah Lehner, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Martin Schuster, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Sebastian Brunner, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Wolfgang Stürzl, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mrs. Andreas Dömel, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Heinrich Gmeiner, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Bernhard Vodermayer, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Bernhard Rebele, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mrs. Iris Grixa, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mrs. Kristin Bussmann, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Josef Reill, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Bertram Willberg, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mrs. Annika Maier, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Peter Meusel, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Florian Steidle, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Dr. Michal Smisek, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Matthias Hellerer, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Dr. Martin Knapmeyer, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Dr. Frank Sohl, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mrs. Alexandra Heffels, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Dr. Lars Witte, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mrs. Caroline Lange, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Roland Rosta, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Norbert Toth, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Dr. Stefan Völk, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Mr. Andreas Kimpe, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Dr. Peter Kyr, Germany

    Coauthor

    Mrs. Martina Wilde, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany

    Year

    2017

    Abstract
    This paper presents the first results of the analog mission campaign which will be performed between June and July 2017 on Mount Etna in Europe, Italy. The aim of the ROBEX demonstration mission is to test and validate a complex robotic mission including highly autonomous tasks mixed with interrupts caused by scientists or due to operational needs to guarantee the measurement of real and scientifically relevant data. The main scientific objective of the ROBEX mission, the detailed analysis of the lunar crust layers that is replaced by the analysis of Etna lava layers in the demo mission has been leading the developments of the last four years. 

As key missions, a seismic network will be deployed and a seismic profile measurement will be conducted using only robots on the landing site. Further experiments will allow long term autonomous navigation, exploration of craters as well as robot cooperation tasks with the aim of geological analysis and probe selection.
During this one month (analog) campaign, a realistic mission scenario will be built up, including a control station 30km away from the remote site.
Key components of the scenario have already been validated during a test campaign in September 2016 on Mt. Etna.

The Mt. Etna site has mainly been chosen due to the high equivalence of its seismic activity to moon quakes. Earth quakes in this region have a focal depth of approximately 600 km, a value similar to what has also been considered for moon quakes.  Furthermore, the region is seismically highly active, probably three to four events per day, which means that scientifically relevant data will be acquired within the one month duration of the mission. In addition, the site fulfills important criteria for an analog mission such as:

\begin{itemize}\item 
The site shall be of volcanic origin and reveal natural seismic activity
\end{itemize}

\begin{itemize}\item 
It has to be  Moon-analog regarding the geologic context and shape
\end{itemize}

\begin{itemize}\item 
Its topography and morphology shall be representative to planetary surfaces
\end{itemize}

\begin{itemize}\item 
It has to enable building up the necessary logistic and operational infrastructure \end{itemize}

We also describe the Light Weight Rover Unit (LRU) and the complex perception and action handling software that have been developed in order to drive, navigate and operate highly autonomously in the scenario.
    Abstract document

    IAC-17,A3,IP,31,x40040.brief.pdf

    Manuscript document

    IAC-17,A3,IP,31,x40040.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

    To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.