SREC

Small Rovers Exploration Capabilities (SREC)

Description: Assessement of small rover exploration capabilities (ATV-like vehicles)
PI: Dr. Jean-Marc Salotti
Organization: Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Cognitique, Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux, FR

Summary

This project aims at evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of using an unpressurized rover in the field. We propose several experiments. There will be only two astronauts driving two small rovers.

The first part of the work is to determine some interesting locations with very difficult access. It is important to select different categories of difficulties, sandy terrains, rocky terrains, high slopes, small cliffs and holes. In some situations, it should be possible to transport the rovers by hands.

The objective is to assess the benefits of using such small rovers for the clearing of the obstacles. A questionnaire will be provided to the team in the field to perform a qualitative assessment.

Objectives

We propose several types of terrain and obstacles to test for mobility

1. Sandy terrain: How easy or hard is it to cross a small dune or a small area where the crossing is a true challenge?
2. Rocky terrain: What kind of rocks (size, shape, and number) yields to difficulties and require bypasses?
3. Slope: How easy or hard is it to climb a hill or a mountain with the rover? What prevents from going further up?
4. Cliffs and holes: Is it possible to transport the rover in order to cross a trench or a small cliff? What are the conditions?

Experiment Data