Autonomy algorithms developed by researchers at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) could one day make cargo transport on the moon safer and more efficient for astronauts.
Autonomy algorithms developed by researchers at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) could one day make cargo transport on the moon safer and more efficient for astronauts.
As part of a team led by MDA Space, Professor Tim Barfoot and Ph.D. student Alec Krawciw are developing technology to help Canada’s proposed lunar utility vehicle navigate between cargo drop-off points during future lunar missions, addressing a key transportation challenge once astronauts land on the moon.
«Lunar exploration involves a landing site and a habitat site about five kilometers apart», says Barfoot, who also serves as director of the U of T Robotics Institute, an institutional strategic initiative.
«The landing site is flat for safe shuttle arrival, while the habitat needs to be shielded from radiation—typically behind rocky terrain. This creates a transportation challenge: astronauts must be able to move all cargo from the shuttle to the habitat.»
Unlike previous planetary missions where rovers explore terrain in multiple directions to collect data, the lunar utility vehicle will make regular round trips between fixed locations to deliver goods and equipment to astronauts.
