Robotics Challenges for Robotic and Human Mars Exploration

Infrastructure support for robotic colonies, Mars habitat for humans, and/or robotic exploration of planetary surfaces will need to rely on the field deployment of multiple robust robots. This support includes such tasks as the deployment and servicing of power systems and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) generators, establishing long-life robotic science stations for measurement and communications, construction of beaconed roadways, and the site preparation and deployment of human habitat modules. Precursor robotic missions to Mars that involve teams of multiple cooperating robots to accomplish some of these tasks is a cost effective solution to the possible long timeline necessary for the deployment of a human habitat. Ongoing work at JPL in the area or robot colonies is investigating many of the technology developments necessary for such an ambitious undertaking. Some of the issues that are being addressed include behavior-based control systems for multiple cooperating robots, development of autonomous robotic systems for the repair of disabled robots, and the design and development of robotic platforms for construction tasks such as material transport and surface clearing. This paper presents the results of an examination of requirements for robotic precursor missions to Mars.