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20 July 1999
With support from the European Space Agency (ESA) a team of computer scientists and electronics engineers in the Applied Computing Department at the University of Dundee are working on self-guided planetary landing craft. Computer vision and artificial intelligence techniques are being developed to guide a lander down to a landing site, automatically avoiding any obstacles on the surface. The spacecraft's pilot is being replaced by a system with cameras for eyes and a computer for a brain.
Said computer scientist Dr Steve Parkes: "Using humans for scientific exploration in space is extremely expensive. Semi-independent robotic probes can be much more effective and do not need costly life-support systems. Nor do they have to be returned to earth at the end of the mission. Almost everything that can be done by a human can be done by machine. Machines can go places that are too inhospitable for humans."
Safe landing of spacecraft is a critical part of a mission. To assist, Dr Parkes and Iain Martin of the University of Dundee have produced LunarSim, a realistic simulation of the moon's surface to help evaluate and test different vision-based navigation and piloting techniques. Dr. Parkes explained, "We have a computer system which simulates the moon's surface and the camera on the spacecraft. It can take images of the simulated surface from any position and orientation. These images can then be used to test various vision techniques for navigation and piloting. Navigation determines where the spacecraft is, relative to the target landing spot and piloting finds a place to land which is free from obstacles close to the required landing spot."
Computer graphics techniques have been borrowed from computer games and virtual reality to make the lunar simulation as realistic as possible. Crater models have been developed with characteristics which closely match those of real lunar craters. Mountainous and flat lunar landscapes can be synthesised. Users of the LunarSim system can produce their own simulated lunar surface in a matter of a few minutes. Iain Martin commented, "This tool will, we hope, help to make it possible to develop robotic spacecraft that can land successfully on the moon and beyond."/ends
Contact Dr Steve Parkes 01382 345194
