EVA Report #07
Author: Aditya Arjun Anibha
EVA Date: 30th December 2023
Start time: 0936
End time: 1116
Purpose of EVA:
Robot Functionality Field Testing at Cowboy Corner
Robot maneuverability will be tested using laptop controls near Cowboy Corner. Factors of consideration are roughness and steepness that it can handle, so overall efficiency of the robot movement will be considered, relative to conventional wheel rovers or human EVA.
Narrative:
The Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) commenced at 0936, led by Aditya (Crew Scientist), Sara (Crew Journalist) and Nathan (Crew Engineer). The crew embarked on their Martian exploration utilizing the Opportunity and Perseverance rovers, navigating from Cow Dung Road to the north until reaching Cowboy Corner. Opportunity and Perseverance initiated the mission with full charges – Opportunity at 100% and 152.5 hours, Perseverance at 100% and 281.8 hours.
After arriving at Cowboy Corner, the team determined a suitable travel path for the robot to cover a diverse set of terrain. Aditya set up the robot for testing, while Nathan would tug it via string and Sara would conduct video documentation. The experiment first started with the robot in its closed wheel configuration for flat terrain and was moved eastward for 8 meters. Next, the robot was changed to its open wheel configuration for rocky terrain and travelled eastward about 28 meters over a shallow mound, then northward 29 meters over a highly uneven and rocky mound. The crew then spotted a steeper rocky mound about 70 meters southward and tested the robot to climb over it. It successfully traversed these paths with varied distributions of rocks between 1 cm to 3 cm in diameter and slopes of upto 20 degrees from the horizontal. In both cases, the robot’s speed was about 0.3 m/s and the EVA crew followed it along its path. Small items were used as markers for the start and end points and the distance travelled between them was acquired using measuring tape.
With testing complete, the team travelled back to the rovers at Cowboy Corner and returned to the Habitat with Opportunity at 57% charge and 152.8 hours, and Perseverance at 49% charge and 281.8 hours. The reentry process for the HAB commenced at 1116, concluding their Martian exploration.
During testing, a few aliens were spotted on a distant mountain and three alien vehicles closer to North Ridge on the way back to the Hab.
This EVA involved meticulous planning, organization and time tracking to ensure the robotic exploration objectives were efficiently and successfully completed during the limited excursion time. It contributed many valuable insights into robot operation for exploration of varied flat, sloped, uneven and rocky terrains using variable wheel radii to overcome different degrees of rock size distributions. Overall, the EVA was executed with a resounding success with exploration, research and safety properly balanced and prioritized.
Destination: Cowboy Corner
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N 518700, E 4253000
Participants: Aditya Arjun Anibha (Crew Scientist), Nathan Bitner (Crew Engineer), Sara Paule (Crew Journalist)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive north using Cow Dung Road 0110 up till Cowboy Corner
Mode of travel: Driving and Walking