“STEPS” AVIONICS FOR EXPLORATION SYSTEMS THE ACHIEVED RESULTS AND THE NEXT “STEPS-2”

摘要

This paper presents the STEPS project reachedresults in the avionics domains like: vision-based GNCfor Mars Descent & Landing, Hazard avoidance andcomplete spacecraft autonomy; Autonomous RoverNavigation, based on perception, 3D map reconstructionand path planning; Mobility & Mechanisms providingan Integrated Ground Mobility System, Rendezvous &Docking equipment, and protection from Environmenteffects; Human-machine interface features of apredictive Command and Control System;; novelDesign & Development Tools, such as a Rover S/Wsimulator and prototypes of the DEM viewer and of aS/W Rock Creator/visualizator.This paper presents also the STEPS 2 project thatstarted January 2013 and is aimed at improving thedevelopment of the most promising technologies,selected from the results of the first STEP phase, andaddressing the needs of the exploration missions asdefined in the 2012 ministerial conference, with theultimate goal of an in-flight validation within next fiveyears.