Scientific applications of robotic systems on planetary missions

摘要

This paper focusses on Mars landing missions. It gives a brief survey of past international missionsand outlines the objectives of the European science community concerning Mars surface exploration.It reviews the studies performed by the ESA science programme in the past (Marsnet, InterMarsnet),culminating in the current efforts to prepare the Mars Express mission for launch in 2003. From the scientific objectives, the functional and performance requirements of robotic systemsare derived which are perceived as essential for unmanned Mars surface exploration. The very severeconstraints on robot systems from the launch, cruise, and Mars surface environment are described aswell as the need for extremely lightweight and low-power solutions with very high science supportefficiency. Five typical classes of A&R systems for Mars exploration are specifically identified: simplemasts or booms, automation systems for drilling and sample handling, micro rovers for instrumentdeployment, mini rovers for long range exploration, and "mole" type penetrators. Of these, thedrilling/sample handling devices and the micro rovers are covered in more detail, with references topapers describing their developments.