In July, researchers from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Ljubljana successfully completed the TerraScout project by testing the multi-robot system on a lunar surface simulator at the LUNA facility in Cologne, Germany. The project received funding from the European Space Agency (ESA).
The primary objective of the TerraScout project is the development of an autonomous system for exploring the Moon's surface. Slovenian researchers from the Ljubljana faculty's laboratory for mechatronics, production systems and automation are convinced that the future of space exploration lies in systems composed of several simpler, smaller, and cheaper robotic units capable of cooperation and autonomous operation. These systems facilitate more efficient and expeditious exploration of celestial bodies, as cooperation engenders greater flexibility and robustness of the entire system while reducing the cost and complexity of individual units. The objective of the TerraScout project is to develop a sophisticated system for autonomous 3D mapping with depth cameras and penetrometric testing of the Moon's surface using multiple robotic units that cooperate in data acquisition. The system has been designed to acquire accurate and reliable data on the topography and physical properties of the surface, which can be used as a basis for further research and other missions to the Moon.
The tests were conducted in a variety of scenarios, including different fleet sizes and under various lighting conditions. The test successfully demonstrated the performance of the developed TerraScout system in terms of both mapping quality and soil bearing capacity measurement. The data collected during the tests will be analysed in more detail and used to develop machine vision systems for use on the Moon, navigation on the Moon's surface, and inter-robot cooperation. This will achieve a high degree of autonomy and efficiency in space exploration.
The LUNA facility is a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The facility is designed to replicate conditions on the Moon's surface, thus functioning as a "Moon on Earth". It provides a unique environment where astronauts, scientists and experts can train and test cutting-edge technologies in preparation for human and robotic missions to the Moon.
