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Planetary Surface Mobility and Exploration: A Review

  • Space Robotics (Y Gao, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

With the continued interest in scientific space exploration and rapid development of the commercialized space sector, there have been a wide array of exploration technologies proposed for planetary mobility. This paper aims to survey these new technologies, explain the motivations and challenges of traversing different space environments, and describe why certain approaches will be more ubiquitous.

Recent Findings

A continued dominance by four- and six-wheeled vehicles for lunar and Martian exploration due to reliability, simplicity, and efficiency is observed. However, there is an emergence of alternative wheeled vehicle kinematics, other legged locomotion, and flying, climbing, or hopping robots when these designs confer specific advantages.

Summary

The engineering maxim “form follows function” is strongly represented within the array of robotic planetary explorer designs. The limitations of an irradiated, dusty, vacuous, remote operating environment which prioritizes efficiency and robust operation often lead to small iterations on working designs because deviations from the status quo are simply not feasible or deemed too risky. Those proposed designs which do deviate have clear justifications driven by their particular environments or intended purpose. Engineers developing future planetary exploring robots for space environments may find these considerations useful.

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  1. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Andrew Thoesen & Hamid Marvi

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  1. Andrew Thoesen
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Correspondence to Hamid Marvi.

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Andrew Thoesen and Hamid Marvi have a patent pending (systems and methods for a multi-modal screw-propelled excavation; 17/105,011).

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Thoesen, A., Marvi, H. Planetary Surface Mobility and Exploration: A Review. Curr Robot Rep 2, 239–249 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43154-021-00056-3

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