Scientists are currently conducting tests that allow the four-legged robot Spirit to navigate rugged terrain, simulating the harsh conditions of the Moon and Mars. This project is led by the University of Southern California (USC) and funded by NASA.
The robot, named Spirit, will be tested on the challenging terrain of Mount Hood in the state of Oregon, USA. The robot must traverse difficult and ever-changing surfaces, walking from hard surfaces or rocks to softer ground such as snow or sand.
The Spirit robot is trained on challenging terrain similar to that on the Moon. (Photo: LASSIE Project)
Dr. Cristina Wilson from Oregon State University stated: “With each step that the four-legged robot takes, it can sense the mechanical resistance with its legs, similar to how humans walk on uneven surfaces. We can detect how the ground shifts beneath us, and a legged robot has the same capability. This allows it to gather data to enhance our understanding of how planetary surfaces are formed and how we can move in the future.”
The research project is named the LASSIE Project: Legged Surface Science in Analog Environments, which demonstrates that the Spirit robot can learn to navigate and adapt to each new challenge, preparing for future missions where humans and robots will work together in space. The robot’s efforts on Mount Hood will contribute to the design of future machines and how to handle different terrains, as well as how they collect data while moving.
Feifei Qian, an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Southern California, explained: “My team’s role in this project is to ensure that the robot can sense and move for planetary science. This means we want the robot to be able to move from one place to another to reach points where we want to take any measurements. Additionally, we are doing something quite novel by turning each leg of the robot into a sensor so that as the robot takes each step, we want it to collect information about the environment.”
The project is funded by NASA with a budget of $2 million over two years, enabling robotic teams to assist astronauts in performing various tasks on the Moon. The research team includes experts from NASA, Texas A&M University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Temple University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
