NASA’s Mars Rover

The software update on the Mars Rovers, called Autonomous Exploration for Gathering Increased Science(AEGIS), allows the rovers to make their own choices. This means that instead of transmitting the post-drive navigation camera images to earth first and then waiting for ground operators to check for points of interest and being able to examine them another day, the rovers can detect their own targets and examine them themselves, while sending pictures down to earth for scientists to examine. The new system gives the rovers the ability to examine images, and identify them based on shape, or color. In addition, these rovers can now figure out how to get around objects and to calculate the distance between its’ arm and a rock, so it can pick it up. Autonomous Exploration for Gathering Increased Science(AEGIS) lets scientists highlight types of places that could be of interest to the rovers’, for example dark places. This new software update will better help scientists hoping to know more about the planet Mars.

http://www.roboticstrends.com/service_robotics/article/nasas_opportunity_adds_autonomy

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/images/pia12980.html

http://marsrover.nasa.gov/spotlight/20100222a.html

http://www.tgdaily.com/space-features/49057-nasa-upgrades-mars-rover-with-advanced-autonomous-capabilities

http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/NASA_Mars_Rover_Getting_Smarter_As_It_Gets_Older_999.html