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FIDO Takes A Spin In The MarsYard


Pasadena - August 11, 1999 -
The FIDO prototype rover that is being used to test technologies in support of the Mars Sample Return Mission in 2005 has taken another spin around JPL's MarsYard.

The lastest FIDO tests took place July 21 and 22 at the Mars Yard at JPL's facility in Pasadena. Several FIDO scientists took part in the test sending command to the rover using WITS (Web Interface for Telescience), a tool that allows remote users to view raw and processed data, to plan observations, to designate navigational way points for rover traverses, and to run the traverses.

The latest test plan was developed on the basis of sols, or Martian days. Activities were planned for 8 sols, but scaled appropriately to fit within the two days allotted for the tests.

The tests focused on ways of find, travel and prepare for drilling of rock targets in the Mars Yard. Using the mast-mounted Pancam and Navcam data feeds together with body-mounted Hazcam images, the Mini-Corer, and the arm-mounted Color Microscopic Imager were all utilized to support the tests. In addiition small cameras monitored the instrument arm and mini-corer deployments.

According to the FIDO team the recent MarsYard tests were successful on the following points;

  • Science targets were selected using Pancam and Infared Point Spectrometer data.

  • Approached three rocks using Pancam, Navcam, and Hazcam data.

  • Successfully placed the Mini-Corer into position to sample two of the three rocks.

  • Simulated acquiring and caching five cores from two rocks, with microscopic images of each core.

Upcoming test later this uear will be used to validate rock cores, and caching cores. "Flight rules" will be derived from the tests that will outline how to accomplish science and operational tasks with the minimum risk to the rover mission. Tests are also scheduled to acquire and analyze data for rover localization.

  • FIDO
  • Athena payload

    FIDO at SpaceDaily

  • Martian Bound Robot Takes A Spin
  • ROBOSPACE - SpaceDaily Special Report

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