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Microrover Catalog Created online microrover catalog What has been done for space and Earth on microrovers. Want to help new groups: –Not reinvent “the wheel” –Stimulate design thoughts One stop info on over 100 Terrestrial and Planetary Rovers (up to 100 kg for comparison) Tells us what we missed

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Online Microrover Catalog

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Examples of current/recent microrovers Only “microrover” flown: Sojourner (11.5 kg) on Mars Pathfinder. MUSES-CN (1 kg) was also developed for flight by JPL

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How can we use microrovers? –Reconnaissance: scout possible traverses (e.g., for large rover, or for astronauts) even more efficient if use multiple several microrovers quickly explore area compared to one large rover –Science: wide range possible from imaging to contact science depending on payload. –High risk exploration, e.g., steep slopes, lava tubes

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How can we use microrovers (2) Increasing Astronaut/Big Rover Safety –Enable focusing EVAs/Big rover traverses on optimized tasks –Facilities Inspection –Communications relays for astronauts working “over the next hill”

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How can we use microrovers (3) Increase Public Excitement/Involvement –Will be “fun” and engaging for the public –Enable additional perspectives imaging spacecraft, facilities, and astronauts (family portrait) Increase Student Involvement –Like CubeSat analogy, standardized microrover conducive to university/student run projects –Can have limited student/public teleoperation

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Design Studies We did some basic design studies One semester long Cornell engineering design class on this topic (~50 students) Provided input to follow-on professional study (Stellar/TPS/Cornell), which distilled and added to student studies, and developed general and specific conclusions

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Sample 3-Student Team Projects

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Some General Conclusions Microrovers kg offer unique benefits and risks, significantly different from larger rovers Paradigm shift: not a single rover that does it all, allows new concept of operations A group of microrovers may accomplish more, with fewer issues of reliability and lower cost than a single, large rover Low mass and easily stowed, microrovers adaptable to flexible, everyday use compared to larger

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Specific Conclusions Power/insulation solutions exist to allow a microrover to survive the lunar night; Mechanically matching an astronaut's speed should not be a driving requirement for the rover's mobility subsystem. Instead: –Virtual proximity through network, and –Recon, science, inspection prior to or in place of astronaut EVA Microrovers can provide GPS-like position knowledge

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Specific Conclusions (2) Microrovers could have same core design, but portions including payload could reconfigured, ideally in a plug-and- play fashion. Working collaboratively as a network allows tasks to be shared among many nodes, including communications relay. Teleoperation, autonomous, or both. Ideally, both – at least limited autonomy.

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Web and (Microrover catalog and additional info/papers from TPS/Cornell study) Contact: Let me know what is missing from catalog.