image: This is one of Dr. Wolfgang Fink's new generation of planetary rovers. view more
Credit: Image courtesy of Wolfgang Fink and Mark A. Tarbell, Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona College of Engineering.
TUCSON, Ariz. (February 18, 2011) -- A University of Arizona College of Engineering researcher and his team who are developing intelligent robots for planetary exploration will be featured in a segment of an upcoming episode of the science program "WaveLengths."
The robots will be featured on the episode premiering Thursday night, February 24 at 8:30 p.m. MST on public television KUAT Channel 6. "WaveLengths" is a quarterly science program hosted by BIO5 Institute Member Dr. Vicki Chandler.
The exploration robots are part of a tier-scalable, reconnaissance system prototype which would be used for planetary exploration. A team lead by Prof. Wolfgang Fink of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the UA College of Engineering developed the reconnaissance system, involving an orbiting satellite, overhead blimp, and surface level, autonomous surface rovers and sea rovers. The intelligent, free-thinking rovers would have the ability to target specific exploration areas for sample and data acquisition.
Communication between the three tiers would take just seconds instead of hours, and the satellite at the top of the tiers would be calling the shots.
The planetary exploration rovers and sea rovers generated industry excitement in November 2010 during opening exhibitions at the international MacTech conference in Los Angeles, when developers received their first public glimpse of the functionality of the Mac-based robotic platforms outside of a university or research setting.
UA Engineering's Prof. Fink is one of only a few dozen researchers who are developing robots with true high-level independence that enables them to avoid danger while investigating specific planetary features. The rovers -- which can carry payloads of 60 pounds -- are based on Mac minis and controlled by iOS devices such as the iPod Touch or iPhone. A sea exploration rover, also controllable by iOS devices, will also be featured on the Feb. 24 "WaveLengths" program.
Fink's research on the use of intelligent robots for planetary exploration has received the NASA Board Award. The tier-scalable reconnaissance paradigm and the robotic explorers were also featured in the July 2010 issue of Science magazine. More information can be found here:
Article on planetary rovers from Arizona Engineer Online
http://www.engr.arizona.edu/news/story.php?id=178
"Making Smarter, Savvier Robots," 2010 article from Science magazine
http://www.engr.arizona.edu/news/media/file/science073010e.pdf
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the UA College of Engineering
http://www.ece.arizona.edu/
Media contact
Steve Delgado, Specialist, UA College of Engineering Communications
sdelgado@engr.arizona.edu
(520) 621-2815
CREDITS FOR AVAILABLE IMAGES
Fink_titanscene_web
Fink's "Tier-Scalable Reconnaissance" concept for autonomous robotic exploration of planetary bodies is shown here applied to Saturn's moon Titan with its methane lakes. Depicted is an orbiter controlling airships or blimps, which in turn control ground rovers and lake landers or boats.
CREDIT: Image courtesy of Wolfgang Fink and Mark A. Tarbell, Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona College of Engineering.
Fink_rover_web.jpg
Smarter than the average robot: One of Fink's new generation of planetary rovers.
CREDIT: Image courtesy of Wolfgang Fink and Mark A. Tarbell, Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona College of Engineering.
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Artist's concept of orbiter, airblimps, rovers and robots working together.
CREDIT: Image courtesy of Caltech/ESA/NASA/JPL.