European Tracked Micro-Robot for Planetary Surface Exploration

Towards Electron-Beam-Driven Soft / Polymer Fiber Microrobotics for Vacuum Conditions

“…We are not considering here aerial robot explorers for planetary exploration [38], which by definition are not vacuum devices. For the same reason robots with manipulators for exploring planets are beyond the scope of this paper [39][40][41][42]. Therefore, in this case, we can only talk about the applications in "open space" and non-atmospheric bodies: meteorites and others [43].…”

Lunar Robotic Precursor Missions Using Electric Propulsion

“…This mass margin can be used in numerous ways; extra science instruments, deep drilling tools, technology demonstrations (enough mass for backups using conventional equipment), or lunar rovers could be employed. Unmanned or manned rovers of a range of sizes [20] allow for a large area of exploration, up to ranges of tens of kilometers. For example, a Boeing design for a manned light utility rover has a mass of 984 kg [21], meaning this system could also transport small amounts of cargo for manned support missions.…”

Environment–robot interaction—the basis for mobility in planetary micro-rovers

“…This relies on track slippage so vehicle odometry on such vehicles is lost, though this is not a major disadvantage as wheel odometry is very inaccurate and must be augmented with external sensing modalities. This is the traction system adopted on the European Space Agency's Nanokhod micro-rover [6], see Fig. 2(b).…”