Astrobotic Developing Robotic System for Planetary Cave Exploration

Posted on October 27, 2013

Astrobotic is developing a small robotic system that could be used to explore caves on the moons or planets. The photo above depicts a mission concept to enter and explore a skylight on the Moon using Tyrobot. Tyrobot was recently tested in an open pit mine in Somerset, PA.

A pulley system is used to lower a little rover into the pit. The rover logs data from its laser range finder, inertial measurement unit, and fisheye camera as it drivers around the pit. When it has finished exploriong, Tyrobot returns to its carrier and is transported up and out of the pit. Astrobotic says detailed modeling of planetary pits and caves can reveal geological insights about mineral composition and pit formation. Take a look:

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