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Telerobotic Perception During Asteroid and Mars Regolith Operations Sensor Research and Development

PI Richard Prazenica

In this project, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is investigating, together with NASA Kennedy Space Center, the effect of difficult lighting and dust conditions on Telerobotic Perception Systems to better assess and refine regolith operations for asteroid, Mars, and polar lunar missions. 

Low illumination and low angle of incidence lighting pose significant problems to computer vision and human perception. Levitated dust on asteroids interferes with imaging and degrades depth perception. Dust Storms on Mars pose a significant problem. Due to these factors, the likely performance of telerobotics is poorly understood for future missions. Current space telerobotic systems are only operated in bright lighting and dust-free conditions. This technology development testing  will identify: the impact of degraded lighting and environmental dust on computer vision and operator perception, the potential methods and procedures for mitigating these impacts, and the requirements for telerobotic perception systems for asteroid capture, Mars dust storms, and lunar regolith ISRU missions

Research Dates

06/15/2015 to 05/30/2016

Researchers

  • Hever Moncayo

    Hever Moncayo

    Department
    Aerospace Engineering Department
    Degrees
    Ph.D., West Virginia University
  • Richard J. Prazenica

    Richard J. Prazenica

    Department
    Aerospace Engineering Department
    Degrees
    Ph.D., M.S., University of Florida
    B.S., University of Pennsylvania

Categories: Faculty-Staff