NASA’s “Revolutionary” Self-Governing Mini Rovers Will Collaborate to Investigate the Moon
During a trial for NASA’s CADRE project at JPL’s Mars Yard, a prototype rover traverses a rock in June. The technology exhibition, heading for the Moon, will highlight the possibilities for joint, independent exploration by a trio of compact solar-powered rovers. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Three rovers, each about the size of carry-on luggage, will collectively map the Moon’s surface in 3D without direct human intervention, employing cameras and underground scanning radar.
NASA is dispatching a set of three small rovers to the Moon to assess their ability to work together without direct oversight from Earth’s mission controllers. The CADRE (Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration) project, a groundbreaking experiment to showcase new technology, represents a further move by the agency toward creating autonomous robots that could enhance the effectiveness of upcoming missions. The rovers, by taking concurrent measurements from various locations, are intended to illustrate how multirobot missions might possibly contribute to new scientific discoveries or assist astronauts.
Plastic prototypes of CADRE rovers were exhibited driving in formation during a JPL trial last year. Seven “Mercury 7” prototypes were constructed, named after NASA’s seven Mercury Project astronauts, including ones named for John Glenn and Scott Carpenter. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Mission Specifics
Set to land in 2024 via a lander as part of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative, CADRE’s three tiny rovers will be lowered onto the Moon’s Reiner Gamma region via cables. Each rover, comparable in size to carry-on baggage and with four wheels, will head for a sunlit area to open solar panels and charge. They will then spend approximately 14 Earth days – one lunar day’s daylight hours – executing tests to gauge their abilities.
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) shows Reiner Gamma, a bright area amid the darker Oceanus Procellarum on the Moon’s near side. Lunar swirls, visible even from backyard telescopes, are unique to the Moon. Credit: NASA LRO WAC science team
“The aim is to prove that mobile robots can work together to complete a mission without human control – independently,” said Subha Comandur, CADRE’s project leader at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “It could transform future exploration.”
Mission overseers on Earth will issue a general order to the base station on the 13-foot (4-meter) lander, and then the small robots will choose a “chief” to distribute work tasks to achieve a collective goal.
JPL’s Jean-Pierre de la Croix explained, “You only specify the high-level objective, and they figure out how to realize it.”
Teamwork Trials
The rovers will undergo various challenges, like driving in formation and exploring a specified 400-square-meter area individually, creating a 3D map with stereo cameras. Success in these tasks will signify that multirobot missions are suitable for exploring challenging but scientifically valuable terrain.
Additional Capabilities and Obstacles
Besides testing autonomous collaboration, the rovers will carry ground-penetrating radars, driving in formation to create a 3D image of the subsurface up to 33 feet (10 meters) deep. This approach could redefine the way science is conducted, according to Comandur.
Smart Operation
Apart from testing autonomy and teamwork, the rovers must endure extreme temperatures near the Moon’s equator, a considerable challenge for such small machines. Constructed with both commercial and custom components, they must withstand the daytime heat while being compact and lightweight.
The rovers will be powered by a small processing chip and will use 30-minute wake-sleep cycles to prevent overheating, cooling through radiators and recharging batteries. They will also communicate their health status and repeatedly choose a leader fit for ongoing lunar exploration.
About the Project
Managed by JPL in California, the CADRE project is part of NASA’s Game Changing Development program. It will be involved in the third lunar lander mission, IM-3, launched by Intuitive Machines under NASA’s CLPS initiative. Glenn Research Center, Ames Research Center, Motiv Space Systems, and Clemson University in South Carolina have all contributed to the project.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about CADRE
What is NASA’s CADRE project?
The CADRE (Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration) project is a groundbreaking initiative by NASA to send three autonomous mini rovers to the Moon. These rovers will work together to map the lunar surface in 3D, without direct human input, and carry out experiments to assess their capabilities.
What are the main objectives of the CADRE project?
The main objectives of the CADRE project include demonstrating the ability of the rovers to cooperate autonomously, exploring the Moon’s surface, creating a 3D subsurface image, and assessing how well the team would adapt to various challenges. Success in these areas may lead to new scientific discoveries and more efficient future missions.
When and where will the CADRE rovers be deployed?
The CADRE rovers are scheduled to arrive on the Moon in 2024. They will be lowered onto the Reiner Gamma region via tethers and will conduct experiments for approximately 14 Earth days, equivalent to the daylight hours of a single lunar day.
How will the CADRE rovers operate autonomously?
The rovers will operate without direct human intervention. They will receive a broad directive from mission controllers on Earth, elect a “leader,” and then figure out how to accomplish assigned tasks. They will also be able to adapt to obstacles, drive in formation, and conduct individual exploration.
What technology will the CADRE rovers use?
The CADRE rovers will employ cameras, ground-penetrating radar, ultra-wideband radios, and sensors. They’ll be powered by solar panels and will use a small processing chip for computing power. Creative solutions like 30-minute wake-sleep cycles will help prevent overheating and allow for efficient operation.
How does the CADRE project contribute to future exploration missions?
The CADRE project marks a significant step toward developing robots that can boost the efficiency of future missions. By demonstrating how multirobot missions can work autonomously, it opens up new possibilities for exploration and data collection that may otherwise be impossible for single robot missions. It represents a potential game-changing approach to scientific exploration.
