Robotics for lunar surface exploration

Abstract

The robotic payload suite (including robotics for mobility and for manipulation) studied by ESA for a potential Moon landing mission is used here as a practical example, for the analysis of system-level issues. Mission and system requirements dictate lunar robotics design in terms of functions and operations, and of constraints (in terms of system resources and environment). The balance of autonomy and telepresence which is adopted is another major factor affecting robotics design, the issues at stake being the impact on technology development and operational costs, the impact on operational capabilities, the impact on the mission outreach to the public at large, the evolution toward a manned outpost (with task sharing between crew and robots), and the continuity and evolution from space station robotics. Also, the place of robotics in the system “in situ” infrastructure is of relevance, regarding the role of robotics in supporting the infrastructure, and, vice versa, the need for the infrastructure to support robotics not “ruggedised” for the extreme environment. It is evident that considerable room is available for a growth of robotics, even from the very first lunar surface missions at the beginning of the next century, in terms of “smart” innovations which can provide solutions to the issues outlined above.