Trends of space robotics Design methodologies for a colony of autonomous space robot explorers

摘要

Up to present, Mars soil exploration has been carried out by single rovers, who had to take the scientific measurements and also to provide orientation and obstacle avoiding. Rovers cooperated in a team by means of simple and lightweight explorers, which can map the search area, finding features very fast. Consequently, they can guide the scientific rover directly to the interesting parts of the mapped area. The boundaries of the searching zone can be reached rapidly. The discovery of new features and looking behind obstacles is not anymore a demanding task for the heavier main rover. We designed a new kind of robot for space exploration, which is on development. The concept of colony of many robots for exploration, able to perform actions on Moon or on Mars is here presented, like a step for new concepts in space robotic design. Ladyfly robots also provide a new locomotion system, which permits a more reliable and safe motion in front of different soils (hard or with sand).