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Introduction
The Mars mission has been a topic of great interest and excitement for scientists and space enthusiasts alike. Recently, researchers at the University of Wurzburg have made significant breakthroughs in the development of a swarm of robots to explore the vast and challenging terrain of Mars. This article will delve into the details of this ambitious project, known as VaMEx, and explore the technologies and innovations that make it possible.
Mars mission: Wurzburg researchers orchestrate swarm of robots
An enormous canyon stretches across Mars: Valles Marineris is 3,000 kilometres long, 600 kilometres wide and on average eight kilometres deep. Its Latin name goes back to the Mars orbiter “Mariner”, which discovered the valley in the early 1970s. Since 2012, this largest known canyon in the solar system has received special attention from the German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). The VaMEx initiative aims to develop key technologies for robotic exploration of this difficult terrain in a swarm: The VaMEx – Valles Marineris Explorer consists of driving, walking and flying drones that form a complex overall system.
The space agency’s VaMEx initiative aims to explore the canyon’s gorges and caves for the first time. It will also search for traces of liquid water and thus possibly for life that could exist there in protected niches. To this end, DLR wants to bring a swarm of autonomous, interconnected robots to Mars: They will operate on the ground, in the air and in caves, where they will collect images and other data.
Caves as Particularly Interesting Target Locations
There are likely to be several caves in the rugged valley. Even in the seemingly monotonous landscape of the moon, researchers from Italy and the USA recently discovered the entrance to a large cave. Caves are not only interesting as locations for lunar or Martian bases. They offer protection from cosmic radiation, more moderate temperatures and therefore also a good environment for the preservation of life, which could have emerged billions of years ago when conditions on Mars were much more favourable.
How the Robot Swarm is Composed
“We have given our sub-project the name “VaMEx3-MarsSymphony” because the aim is to make the individual elements of the robot swarm play together harmoniously like an orchestra,” says project leader Professor Hakan Kayal. In the current development phase, the swarm includes mobile robots in the air and on land, a stationary gateway on the ground that serves as a command centre for communication, and a satellite simulator for data exchange with the earth.
Technology from Wurzburg: Autorotation Bodies
The swarm also includes so-called autorotation bodies: they are dropped from the air and collect data as they glide gently to the ground. They achieve the latter thanks to their special design: the elongated bodies are built like maple seeds. They have a wing and rotate on their own axis, allowing them to gently spin downwards. Their flight path can be controlled so that they can be distributed over a larger area and then used as sensor, repeater and navigation networks.
A Celestial Camera is Integrated into the Gateway
The robotic Mars orchestra has another unique feature: the stationary gateway will be equipped with a camera that keeps an eye on the Martian sky. “All previous Mars missions have focussed on the surface of the planet, but we want to look upwards for the first time,” says Hakan Kayal. And there should be a lot to observe there: Cloud formation, ingress of meteors or lightning and other short-lived luminous phenomena.
Communication Between Gateway and Relay Satellite as a Challenge
Communication between the elements described and the space segment is a key challenge in the transmission of the scientific data obtained. Due to scarce resources, this applies in particular to communication between the gateway on the surface of Mars and the relay satellites in orbit.
System Test 2025 with Analogue Mission on Earth
Whether the robot swarm works as planned will be tested during an analogue mission in 2025: The participants will simulate the Mars mission on Earth, probably in a quarry in Germany. The Wurzburg UAP camera will also play an important role in this simulation: its video recordings from the sky will provide sufficiently large volumes of data to test the resilience of the communication system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What is the main goal of the VaMEx initiative?
The main goal of the VaMEx initiative is to develop key technologies for robotic exploration of the difficult terrain of Valles Marineris on Mars.
Question 2: What is the composition of the robot swarm?
The robot swarm consists of mobile robots in the air and on land, a stationary gateway on the ground that serves as a command centre for communication, and a satellite simulator for data exchange with the earth.
Question 3: What is the purpose of the autorotation bodies?
The autorotation bodies are dropped from the air and collect data as they glide gently to the ground, providing a way to collect data in hard-to-reach areas.
Question 4: How will the robot swarm be tested?
The robot swarm will be tested during an analogue mission in 2025, where the participants will simulate the Mars mission on Earth, probably in a quarry in Germany.
Question 5: What is the purpose of the celestial camera integrated into the gateway?
The celestial camera is integrated into the gateway to observe the Martian sky, providing a way to gather data on cloud formation, ingress of meteors or lightning and other short-lived luminous phenomena.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the VaMEx initiative is an ambitious project that aims to explore the vast and challenging terrain of Valles Marineris on Mars. The development of a swarm of robots, including mobile robots, autorotation bodies, and a stationary gateway, is a significant innovation that will enable the exploration of this difficult terrain in a way that has never been done before. With its focus on caves as particularly interesting target locations and its use of cutting-edge technologies, the VaMEx initiative is an exciting development in the field of space exploration.
