[meteorite-list] NASA Tests Advanced Spacesuit, Robot Helper At Meteor Crater

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:08:24 2004
Message-ID: <200209111552.IAA01321_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

September 10, 2002

Kylie Moritz
Johnson Space Center, TX
281-483-5111


Kelly Humphries
Johnson Space Center, TX
281-483-5111

Report #J02-91

NASA TESTS ADVANCED SPACESUIT, ROBOT HELPER AT METEOR CRATER

Scientists, an advanced spacesuit, robotics engineers and communications
experts are trekking into the desert near Flagstaff, Ariz. this month to
study how robots and humans can best interact using spoken language, and to
gather data for comparing human and robotic performance.

Humans wearing an advanced Mark III spacesuit working alongside an Extra
Vehicular Activity Robotic Assistant (ERA) rover will perform tasks
representative of future exploration at two sites in the Arizona desert
during the first two weeks of September. Exploration tasks will include
geophone instrument deployment and field mapping. These tests are a part of
NASA strategy to apply advanced technology and cooperative information to
improve scientific productivity at a variety of potential locations.

The investigations are intended to gather metrics to compare the
effectiveness of robots and humans for each of the tasks performed, and to
identify the optimum combination of human and machine explorers for future
missions. Studies like these provide information to aid long-range planning
and future decision making for many science-driven applications and
destinations.

Media are invited to meet the team and the robotic rover on Friday, Sept. 13
between 9 and 2 p.m. local time, at Meteor Crater, Ariz. Media wishing to
participate must contact the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) newsroom no
later than 5 p.m. Central time Sept. 12 to receive instructions and
directions to the research site. Transportation to the site will be the
responsibility of those wishing to participate.

The expedition is a joint effort by spacesuit and control center experts at
JSC; communications experts at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), NASA Ames
Research Center (ARC), and NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC); robotics
experts at JSC and ARC; and geology experts at the University of Texas-El
Paso, the University of Cincinnati, Bowling Green State University/Ohio,
Stanford University and the United States Geological Survey at Flagstaff.

Central to this year's tests is the team responsible for the Mark III
spacesuit, led by JSC's Joe Kosmo and Amy Ross. Suit test subjects Kevin
Groneman, the lead technician in the Advanced Space Suit Laboratory at JSC,
and geologist Dr. Dean Eppler, of ILC Dover, will execute scientific
traverses, place instruments, and take measurements. The robotics team at
JSC, led by Jeffrey Graham, will be deploying the rover in various
exploration scenarios and supporting roles to study how robots and humans
can best interact using spoken language, and to gather data for comparing
human and robotic performance.

The ERA is a powerful, high-endurance, well-instrumented mobile robot with a
sophisticated arm and advanced software architecture and fuel cell
technology, making it a capable player on a team with other robots and
humans. The robot can also operate on its own with full autonomy, performing
tasks to keep the astronaut out of harm's way and focused on higher-level
tasks.

Teams from ARC, JSC, GRC and LaRC will work together to integrate the
various communications systems for voice and data streams, working with
experts in voice recognition and computer modeling, and to accomplish the
scientific objectives of the test.

Data from the science instruments and from several video cameras mounted on
the suit helmet, science trailer and rover will be relayed via local
wireless networks back to the field team and eventually via satellite to a
team of scientists at JSC's Exploration Control facility, managed by Anthony
Griffith. The science team, led by planetary scientist Dr. Kelly Snook,
includes geology and planetary exploration experts from JSC, Science
Applications International, Corp., the University of Houston, and Bowling
Green State University.

- - END -
Received on Wed 11 Sep 2002 11:52:29 AM PDT