Friday, November 15, 2024

Remote-control robots could help humanity explore the moon and Mars

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Teleoperated rovers could soon be working on the moon, with human controllers on Earth manipulating the rovers’ tools virtually, allowing for greater dexterity when taking samples, digging or assembling.

Researchers from the robotics laboratory at the University of Bristol in England have tested their new teleoperations system at the European Space Agency‘s (ESA) European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications at Harwell in Oxfordshire. By controlling a virtual simulation of a rover, they were able to manipulate a robotic arm to dig a sample of pretend lunar regolith (called simulant). The process negates the need for camera feeds, which can lag because of the 1.3-second time delay between Earth and the moon. The signals between the teleoperators and robotic missions on the moon could in future be relayed by satellites belonging to ESA’s planned Moonlight project.

“This simulation could … help us operate lunar robots remotely from Earth, avoiding the problem of signal delays,” said Bristol’s Joe Louca in a statement

A teleoperated system scooping up simulant, which is an accurate replica of lunar regolith. (Image credit: Joe Louca)

The virtual simulation also incorporates “haptic” interactions. In other words, it gives the user a sense of touch, mimicking the tactile properties of lunar regolith in the moon’s low gravity. This gives teleoperators a greater sense of how much force they have to use to dig into regolith, or to lift up a sample in a scoop. So far, the haptic interactions have only been included in the virtual versions of basic tasks, such as pressing regolith into the ground or dragging a scoop through it, but not yet for more complex tasks.



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