GMV conducts space robotics trials in the National Park of Teide
La multinacional tecnológica GMV está realizando del 2 al 16 de octubre en las Minas de San José, en el Parque Nacional del Teide (Tenerife) la última fase de pruebas de robótica espacial del proyecto LUCID (LUnar scenario Concept valIdation and Demonstration), liderado por GMV y financiado por la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA).
From 2 to 16 October, in Minas de San José in the National Park of Teide on the Canary Island of Tenerife, the technology multinational GMV is carrying out the final phase of rover trials under the GMV-led European Space Agency (ESA) project LUCID (LUnar scenario Concept valIdation and Demonstration).
LUCID aims to evaluate the combination of necessary localization and situational awareness techniques and tools for operating a Lunar Prospector Rover efficiently and safely within the environmental constraints of the lunar polar region. GMV has integrated system equipment and developed the rover’s software
Throughout this year the prototype lunar rover LUCID has been put through its paces in Madrid and is now in the final trial phase in Tenerife, to check that all the rover’s systems work properly. The National Park of Teide has been chosen as the testing site because it is the best match in terms of reproducing the lie of the land to be found by the rover on certain regions of the Moon or Mars.
The first rover tests were carried out in GMV’s Tres Cantos site in Madrid, followed by outdoor tests in Dehesa de Navalvillar to the north of Madrid in Colmenar Viejo. Here an efficiency check was made of the all the rover’s components, including optical cameras, stereovision systems, laser 3D terrain-reconstruction systems and night navigation systems. Last June GMV’s team moved on to Teide to complete the first test phase in a lunar analog site.
Now, from 2 to 16 October LUCID will once again be running over the moon-like landscapes of Minas de San José in what will be the last testing phase. Definitive sensor tests are being conducted at sunset, while also vetting navigation techniques to provide the rover operating team with the best possible information. Other capabilities under test and validation are locomotion, illumination and capture of rover images, a fundamental factor in Moon exploration missions.
This series of tests is crucial as the best way of validating the human-machine interaction, i.e., assessing whether all the information supplied under real conditions is enough for the operator’s purposes and whether this information is offered in the best possible way. The trials are equally essential in terms of increasing reliability and maturity after subjection of the system to the most realistic conditions possible.
“These tests have given us priceless information on the specific usefulness of each one of the techniques used and the best way for the operator to make use of them according to the terrain being crossed by the rover. During the second part of the test campaign we will be operating in even more difficult conditions with longer runs over more complicated ground”, explained Fernando Gandía, head of the LUCID project.
These conclusions will then stand ESA in good stead in its space race. The bases have also been laid down for researchers’ and scientists’ follow-up projects over the coming years.
Rover factfile
• Weight: c. 150 Kg.
• Speed: 0.1 m/s.
• Power supply: 2 lithium batteries (50AH each one) with an autonomy of about 3 hours. Not fitted with solar panels since it will operate mainly in darkness.
• Data/image transmission to the control center: by radiofrequency.
Space Missions to the Moon
In recent years, NASA and ESA to the fore, space agencies have sent uncrewed moon-orbiting probes to look for minerals and chemical compounds of interest. These space missions have revealed the very probable existence of ice mixed in with the lunar regolith in craters located in the polar region’s permanently shadowed zone. What has become clear is that there is hydrogen-riche ore. To reach it a rover would have to be able to penetrate these dark, fiercely cold craters; this poses a stiff challenge for planetary exploration rovers.
As well as the LUCID project, GMV is also leading other European Commission H2020 space robotics projects: development of the European Space Robotics Control and Operating System (ESROCOS project); the European Robotic Goal-Oriented Autonomous Controller (ERGO project); coordination of the testing phase of the two former projects and others in diverse European laboratories (FACILITATORS project) or GOTCHA, development of an advanced autonomous space system of robotics collaboration.