Energid Develops Proxy Simulation for Lunar and Planetary Rovers

Energid Technologies is developing a proxy digital simulation for lunar and planetary rovers.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has funded this project for Energid Technologies, which notes that this initiative is managed by the Intelligent Robotics Group (IRG) at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California.

IRG conducts field tests to prepare for lunar and planetary robotic missions. A field test typically involves 10-20 scientists and controllers and 10-20 operators.

It also involves a remote team of 10-20 that travels to a remote location that has terrain matching the needs of the test, usually in a desert.

Energid Technologies notes the opportunity in replacing this remote hardware and support team with a digital simulation, or proxy, for some studies. 

Simulation offers a range of benefits, including cost savings, a reduced burden on engineers, and improved variation of scenarios for study. 

Both NASA and Energid will collaborate to develop a proxy simulation.

Energid secured two-year funding for this effort after a demonstration of the viability of simulating a rover and integrating with NASA's tools during a six-month proof-of-concept effort.

"This is an ideal application of digital simulation," said James English, chief technical officer at Energid Technologies. "It allows testing environments and situations -- including planetary terrain and operation with teams of robots -- that would otherwise be costly, or even impossible, to reproduce."

"There is no universal robotics simulation algorithm," said Chalongrath Pholsiri, Principal Engineer at Energid Technologies. "A wheel rotating against soft soil or regolith responds differently from a metal body striking a rock."

Read a related article at TMCnet “Energid Technologies to Develop Economical Robotic Citrus Harvester.”