Keywords:manipulation; Mars surface operations; in-situ operations; space robotics; robotic arm
Publisher:Pasadena, CA : Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2013
Citation:8th International Conference on System of Systems Engineering (SoSE) the IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Society and the IEEE Reliability Society, Maui, Hawai, June 2–6, 2013
Abstract:
The Robotic Arm (RA) has operated for more than 200 Martian solar days (or sols) since the Mars Science
Laboratory rover touched down in Gale Crater on August 5, 2012. During the first seven months on Mars the robotic arm has performed multiple contact science sols including the positioning of the Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) and/or Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) with respect to rocks or loose regolith targets. The RA has supported sample acquisition using both the scoop and drill, sample processing with CHIMRA (Collection and Handling for In- Situ Martian Rock Analysis), and delivery of sample portions to the observation tray, and the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) and CHEMIN (Chemistry and Mineralogy) science instruments. This paper describes the planning and execution of robotic arm activities during surface operations, and reviews robotic arm performance results from Mars to date.