Robot-terrain interactions for space robots

这项研究计划研究空间机器人，以及它们如何与地形互动：通过驾驶、抓取、采样和挖掘。随着机器人太空探索的目标是月球、火星和小行星上越来越多的极端地形，准确了解机器人如何与这些地形互动提高了成功的机会。火星探索火星车精神号被困在松软的土壤中，以及火星科学实验室好奇号火星车车轮上的撕裂和穿孔，展示了这项研究将解决的当前火星漫游的一些挑战。 更深入地了解机器人与地形的相互作用将为漫游者提供更有见地的风险分析。除了应对当前的挑战，这项研究还为太空探索打开了新的机遇。例如，能够在更陡峭的沙质斜坡上行驶的先进漫游车，可以对大量新的陨石坑和山脉进行勘探。高效的机器人路线规划可以从耗电的太空任务中获得更多好处。 这些研究领域将有助于保持加拿大在空间机器人领域的全球领先地位，这为加拿大经济提供了高科技工作机会，并激励下一代加拿大人追求科学和工程。这项研究的另一个适用领域是国防车辆的越野机动性和自主性，这一应用增强了加拿大的安全。

This research program studies space robots, and how they interact with terrain: through driving, gripping, sampling, and digging. As robotic space exploration targets more and more extreme terrains on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids, an accurate understanding of how robots can interact with these terrains improves chances of success. The entrapment of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in soft soil and the tears and punctures in the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover’s wheels demonstrate some of the current challenges of roving on Mars that this research will address. A deeper understanding of robot-terrain interactions would produce better-informed risk analysis for rovers. In addition to addressing current challenges, this research also opens new opportunities for space exploration. Advanced rovers able to drive on steeper sandy slopes, for example, open exploration to a significant number of new craters and mountains. Efficient planning of robot routes can get more out of power-starved space missions. These areas of research will help maintain Canada’s global leadership in space robotics, which provides the economy with a supply of high-tech jobs and inspires the next generation of Canadians to pursue science and engineering. Another applicable domain for this research is off-road mobility and autonomy of defence vehicles, an application that enhances Canada’s security.