Cooperative Robots for Extreme Environments

Cooperative Robots for Extreme Environments

CoRob-X develops and demonstrates enabling technologies for multi-agent robotic teams. The primary target application is the exploration of planetary surfaces, with a focus on hard-to-reach areas. CoRob-X builds on robotic hardware provided by the project consortium and software building blocks developed within the framework of the SRC Space Robotics Technologies. These building blocks are reused and extended to support a multi-agent exploration team of robots. A first iteration of the Conceptual Study led us to select a set of specific scenarios for the exploration of Lunar surface and lava tubes with a team of three Robotic Explorer Units (REUs). The rovers are at different scale (dimensions, mass) and exhibit different locomotion principles/capabilities. The final demonstration will be performed in a Moon/Mars (outdoor) analogue simulation environment and include the use of an instrument that will be used on a real space mission (same ground penetrating radar GPR as used in Exomars), and will be aimed to demonstrate how to improve the performances of a space mission (in terms of scientific return, timeliness, availability, responsiveness, and operation costs) and maturity level of the existing building blocks. Additionally, a terrestrial mining scenario will be demonstrated that reuses the SW packages developed for the space mission but on different robotic platforms. The final demonstration for the terrestrial scenario will be in the mining facilities of Santa Barbara Foundation. CoRob-X is firmly embedded in the SRC Space Robotics Research ecosystem. Corob-X´s team is formed by key partners that have been involved in each and every previous OG,s from the 1st and 2nd PERASPERA SRC call (from OG1 to OG11). Therefore, we can maximize the capability for re-use and identification of the extensions to the existing building blocks required and minimize the risks associated to the integration activities.