Autonomous Rover Trajectory Control for Weak Gravity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current designs for missions on small bodies and moons with weak gravitational forces face challenges in safe and agile operation due to extreme conditions, making reliable landing and exploration difficult.
Innovation Solution
A reconnaissance rover equipped with a detection unit, processing unit, and drive unit that enables multiple agile and autonomous landings, capable of hovering and moving above the surface, using non-stiction-based drive units and accounting for Coriolis forces, to gather environmental data and navigate safely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional landing vehicles are used on small bodies with weak gravitational forces, then the mission may be lost due to smallest faults or disturbances, but the patent introduces a reconnaissance rover with detection, processing, and control units that enables agile and autonomous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The reconnaissance rover incorporates a detection unit that continuously monitors the environment and provides data to a processing unit, which updates the trajectory in real-time. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to disturbances and maintain reliable operation on small bodies with weak gravity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rover is designed to be autonomously controllable, with the control unit interacting with the drive unit to move according to updated trajectories without requiring constant external intervention. This self-service capability enhances mission reliability while managing system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the reconnaissance rover hovers above the surface to enable multiple landings, then exploration capability is improved, but the drive unit must operate without static friction assistance in weak gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a non-stiction-based drive unit that operates without relying on static friction, which is essential for hovering and movement in the weak gravitational environment of small bodies. This substitution enables the rover to hover above the surface and perform multiple agile landings.
Solution Approach 2:
The rover's trajectory is dynamically updated by the processing unit based on environmental data from the detection unit. This dynamic adaptation allows the rover to navigate and land safely on small bodies while maintaining exploration versatility.
3Measurement precision
If the processing unit updates the trajectory based on environmental data, then navigation precision is improved, but Coriolis forces must be taken into account in weak gravitational fields
Solution Approach 1:
The processing unit continuously updates the trajectory based on real-time environmental data from the detection unit. This feedback mechanism ensures high navigation precision by accounting for dynamic conditions including Coriolis forces in the weak gravitational field of small bodies.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective exploration and data collection on small bodies and moons, facilitating better scientific conclusions and potential resource prospecting by maintaining stable hovering and movement in weak gravitational environments.
Implementation Method 1
The drive unit can be, for example, a non-stiction-based drive unit. The reconnaissance rover can move without the assistance of static friction, for example.
Implementation Method 2
The processing unit can also be designed to update the trajectory, taking Coriolis forces into account.
Implementation Method 3
The detection unit is designed to detect at least an environment in front of the reconnaissance rover, in the direction of a trajectory of the reconnaissance rover over a surface of the small body or moon.
Data Source
AI summary
A reconnaissance rover configured for multiple agile and autonomous landings over a small body or moon. The reconnaissance rover comprises a detection unit, a processing unit, a control unit and a drive unit. The detection unit is configured to detect at least an environment in front of the reconnaissance rover, in the direction of a trajectory of the reconnaissance rover over a surface of the small body or moon. The detection unit is further configured to provide environmental data based on the detected environment. The processing unit is configured to update the trajectory based upon the provided environmental data. The control unit interacts with the drive unit to move the reconnaissance rover according to the updated trajectory.