Automated European Rover Prototype Tested

Throughout last week, investigators with the European Space Agency (ESA) and collaborators tested a new machine in Spain. The instrument is a platform that can operate either automatically or with a human conductor, and its main goal is to serve space exploration on other planets and moons.

The tests took place at a location called Rio Tinto (Red River), in a region of southern Spain called Andalucia. They included the new ESA rover, a mock-up of an advanced spacesuit the agency is working on, as well as a new, complex medical monitoring system.

Despite its proximity to civilization, the patch of land ESA, the Austrian Space Forum and the local organizers selected for the assessment stage of the mission is as Mars-like as it gets here on Earth.

The landscape is very rugged, and has the exact texture and feel that astronomers would expect to find when they land on the Red Planet. This is why the agency decided to test its four-wheeled Eurobot Ground Prototype at this location.

These tests represented the first time ever that the rover was put through its paces in the real world. Until now, all previous tests were conducted in the lab. The machine proved effective at traveling both alone and with passengers.

Simple voice commands or a joystick are enough to operate it remotely. The machine also has its own set of eyes, which enables it to drive about automatically, without bumping into things.

“There is always a certain risk in this, because we don’t have a lot of spares available in the field, but pushing the technology to and maybe beyond its limits always teaches us a lot.” says rover scientist Philippe Schoonejans.

One of the main traits the machine has is its arm pair. Each of the two arms can be outfitted with a wide array of interchangeable tools. The machine's exterior is covered with sensors to improve its functionality.

In addition to the rover, experts also tested the ESA Long Term Medical Survey System (LTMS), an array of sensors that measures a lot of the physiological aspects of an astronaut in a spacesuit. During the new investigation, experts got a glimpse of how the system could be improved further.

“Medical doctors supporting Mission Control in Innsbruck were very happy when they received the flawless data from LTMS,” explains the ESA LTMS technical officer. Michel Lazerges.

“Everything went extremely well considering the difficulties with the weather, and both Eurobot and LTMS demonstrated many of their capabilities and returned safely back to ESA's Technical Center ESTEC,” Scott Hovland concludes.