The MMX Rover on Phobos: The Preliminary Design of the DLR Autonomous Navigation Experiment

Mallikarjuna Vayugundla, Tim Bodenmuller, Martin J. Schuster, Marcus G. Muller, Lukas Meyer, Patrick Kenny, Florian Schuler, Markus Bihler, Wolfgang Sturzl, Bernhard Michael Steinmetz, Jorg Langwald, Andreas Lund, Riccardo Giubilato, Armin Wedler, Rudolph Triebel, Michal Smisek, Markus Grebenstein

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper summarizes the challenges of deep space planetary robotic-exploration missions, using the example of the DLR Autonomous Navigation Experiment within the MMX Rover project, and presents a preliminary design of the proposed solution to safe navigation of the MMX Rover on Pho-bose The MMX Rover, a joint contribution of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Centre National dEtudes Spatiales (CNES) is part of the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) Mission by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), whose mission objective is to understand the origin of the two Martian moons. The mission involves scientific data collection and a sample return from Phobos, the bigger of the two Martian moons. The mission is scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2024. The MMX Rover will fly as a payload and will be jettisoned onto Phobos from a low altitude of about 40 metres. The rover has multiple objectives: terrain assessment to mitigate the risk for the sample-return approach of the spacecraft, exploration of the surface of Phobos and act as a scientific and technology demonstration platform. In this context, the Robotics and Mechatronics Institute, DLR, is preparing to perform an Autonomous Navigation Experiment as a technology demonstration to showcase the advantages of robot autonomy for exploring distant celestial bodies. If successful, the MMX Rover will be the first man-made object to land on and explore Phobos.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2021 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2021
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
ISBN (Electronic)9781728174365
DOIs
StatePublished - 6 Mar 2021
Externally publishedYes
Event2021 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2021 - Big Sky, United States
Duration: 6 Mar 202113 Mar 2021

Publication series

NameIEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings
Volume2021-March
ISSN (Print)1095-323X

Conference

Conference2021 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2021
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBig Sky
Period6/03/2113/03/21

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