The 9 x 9 x 9 mts volume has been enclosed for safety reason. Inside this volume, an high precision infrared tracking system is providing positioning data to the UAV that has been customized by Mechatronics Laboratory of Polytecn of Turin.
Images are processed, waypoint after waypoint, by a GNS (Guidance Navigation System) which capable of guiding the lander based only on the images taken by the camera. The aim of of the processing suggesting good waypoint in order to avoind obstacle and select good places to land. The drone is guided to the ground, waypoint after waypoint slowly decreasing altitude until safe touchdown is reached.
Mars terrain mockup has been realized by TASI based on detailed DEM and photo data available from recent NASA mission on the planet.
Immagini e filmati sono gentilmente concessi da Thales Alenia Space Italia. L’attività è stata svolta nell’ambito del progetto di ricerca STEPS (Sistemi e Tecnologie per l’EsPlorazione Spaziale), co-finanziato da regione Piemonte, Aziende ed Università del Distretto aerospaziale Piemontese (P.O.R. – F.E.S.R. 2007-2013 EC funding program).
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