Summary Draft 1

Team: Ruth and Heng Kiat

Objective: To summarize the features and functions of NASA Perseverance rover's navigation system in 150 words.

The navigation system of NASA's Perseverance rover encompasses six instruments, namely AutoNav, Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), Navcam, Hazcam, Ultra-High Frequency antenna, and X band antenna. Autonav is an automated driving system performing 3D mapping of upcoming terrain, hazard identification, and trajectory planning for obstacle avoidance. IMU is a system of gyroscopes and accelerometers that provides 3-axis information on the rover's position. Navcams and Hazcams are cameras that produce a 3D map displaying the immediate surroundings for detection and tracking of potential hazards as well as ensuring a safe path to navigate. The cameras can also be used to perform visual odometry by using displacement of the image features to estimate position change. The antennas are used for receiving navigational instructions from the Earth for the rover to execute them. Therefore, the instruments are essential to help the rover know its current position and determine its projected path on Mars’s surface.


References:

  1. VECTORNAV(n.d.)WHAT IS AN INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNIT? https://www.vectornav.com/resources/inertial-navigation-articles/what-is-an-inertial-measurement-unit-imu 
  2. X band(2021,Sep11)In Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_band
  3. Hazcam(2021, April21)In Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazcam 
  4. Navcam(2021,june29)in Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navcam#cite_ref-4 
  5. National Aeronautics and Space Administration(2021, Jul 2)NASA’s Self-Driving Perseverance Mars Rover ‘Takes the Wheel’  NASA’s Self-Driving Perseverance Mars Rover ‘Takes the Wheel’ | NASA
  6. Business Insider(2021, Jul 4)NASA's Perseverance rover is driving itself around Mars using an enhanced auto-navigation system  https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-perseverance-rover-self-autonomous-drive-mars-autonav-system-2021-7  
  7. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory(n.d.)Mars Exploration Rover Mobility and Robotic Arm Operational Performance https://robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/publications/Mark_Maimone/MobIDDPerf90sols.pdf   
  8. National Aeronautics and Space Administration(n.d)"Nerves" for balance and position https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/rover/brains/  
  9. National Aeronautics and Space Administration(n.d)Engineering Cameras  https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/rover/cameras/  
  10. National Aeronautics and Space Administration(2021, Feb 15)Terrain Relative Navigation: Landing Between the Hazards https://science.nasa.gov/technology/technology-highlights/terrain-relative-navigation-landing-between-the-hazards 
  11. IGI Global(n.d)What is Navigation System  https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/navigation-system/19976 
  12. National Aeronautics and Space Administration(n.d)Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover  Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover - NASA Mars


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