RAPID
Robust and (Semi) Autonomous Platform for Increased Distances (RAPID)
Contract #: 4000136833/21/NL/RA
In 50 years of Space Exploration, the total distance covered by rovers on Mars and the Moon is about 200km, an average of 4km per year. Future exploration rovers are expected to travel one order of magnitude more per single day. This requires designing rovers that are intrinsically faster than those built so far. It is not only a matter of building faster vehicles. As demonstrated in previous technology development activities, high speed in semi-autonomous rovers, can only be achieved by the optimal concurrent design of locomotion, navigation and Human-Robot Interface (HRI). Current rovers like ExoMars or the Sample Fetching Rover (for Mars Sample Return) have been designed for low speeds, in the order of cm per second. A new fast-moving rover will therefore require radical innovation. The objective of this project is the design and manufacturing of a rover testbed, able to move faster over the moon surface. Contributions of the Space Robotics lab in this project are related to the GNC architecture, mainly focused on the Guidance and Control components that would allow the rover to navigate autonomously at higher speeds.
Main Contractor: GMV Aerospace and Defence S.A.U.
ESA Contract reference: 4000136833/21/NL/RA
Duration: 01/02/2022 - 10/08/2023
