Multi-Tier Planetary Exploration: A New Autonomous Control Paradigm

摘要

Traditional planetary mission concepts have focused on a single, large exquisite craft. This style of mission utilizes a high mass, highly redundant piece of hardware and fosters a culture that is extremely risk averse. Generally, if this craft fails, the mission is over. A multi-tier mission, conversely, utilizes numerous small craft, which work collaboratively to conduct a multi-faceted investigation of a phenomenon. This process begins with site identification from orbit. Aerial and, subsequently, ground craft are deployed to the region to conduct a more detailed investigation. This approach reduces risk, by ensuring that there is not a single point of failure (however, failure of some craft may cause significant mission degradation: e.g., the orbital craft that provides the primary communication channel to Earth). It also enhances mission science returns through maximizing capability use.