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New Software Stops Mars Rover Confusion
MattSparkes writes "The Mars rover Spirit used to get quite confused when it came upon a rock. Because it could only plan routes of a metre or two it couldn't understand how to navigate around large objects, and frequently used to rock back and forth for hours trying to figure it out. NASA have written new software called D* for the rover Opportunity, which should allow it to autonomously plan routes up to 50 metres long. The new software still won't be able to avoid sand-traps, though."
This 'information' was 'officially' released November, 2006. All technical and stuff, bristling with pride about Spirit's 'new' abilities thanks to software 'D'. I'm left wondering how they got onto Mars with such rudimentary navigation in the first place, but NASA explained that due to the 20 minute lag, both rovers weren't allowed to map out more than a meter or two, and this somehow led to a 1.5 hour stutter-shuffle or something that meant they were simply not equipped to handle large objects. Was there a part of the design spec. that said there was not to be a requirement for either of the rovers to need the ability to navigate around 'large objects'...? If so, who the hell came up with that joke...?
Ok, so I figured I'd do a bit more digging to see what, if anything, I could learn about rover navigation pre-2006.
As found on the NASA website, today:
February 9, 2004
NASA's Spirit rover has begun making some of its own driving decisions while its twin, Opportunity, is presenting scientists with decisions to make about studying small spheres embedded in bedrock, like berries in a muffin.
Both rovers are on the move. Late Sunday, Spirit drove about 6.4 meters (21 feet), passing right over the rock called "Adirondack," where it had finished examining the rock's interior revealed by successfully grinding away the surface. The drive tested the rover's autonomous navigation ability for the first time on Mars.
"We've entered a new phase of the mission," said Dr. Mark Maimone, rover mobility software engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. When the rover is navigating itself, it gets a command telling it where to end up, and it evaluates the terrain with stereo imaging to choose the best way to get there. It must avoid any obstacles it identifies. This capability is expected to enable longer daily drives than depending on step-by-step navigation commands from Earth. Tonight, Spirit will be commanded to drive farther on a northeastward course toward a crater nicknamed "Bonneville."
"The drive tested the rover's autonomous navigation ability for the first time on Mars."
What? Back in 2004, NASA clearly stated that 'stereo imaging' was the technology driving 'the rover's autonomous navigation ability'. That was Spirit they talked about having stereo imaging then, and now today, they say Spirit lacks anything allowing it to go ahead on its own....
So what is up with this lame story back in November where they say both poor little rovers can't tell a wall from a boulder from a breadbasket. Load of crap, my meter says....either way, NASA is pulling legs. Was someone full of shit in 2004, or in 2006? How about both times...then, then and now.