But progressively, the rover will organize the drive by itself, using a powerful auto-navigation system. Called AutoNav, this enhanced system makes 3D maps of the surface ahead, identifies hazards, and prepares a route around any challenges without additional instructions from controllers back on Earth.
” We have actually a capability called thinking while driving,” said Vandi Verma, a senior engineer, rover organizer, and chauffeur at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “The rover is thinking about the self-governing drive while its wheels are turning.”
3D Glasses Used for Rover Driving: Vandi Verma, an engineer who now deals with NASAs Perseverance Mars rover, is seen here working as a driver for the Curiosity rover. The unique 3D glasses shes wearing are still utilized by rover drivers to quickly discover modifications in terrain that the rover may need to avoid. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
That capability, integrated with other improvements, might enable Perseverance to strike a leading speed of 393 feet (120 meters) per hour; its predecessor, Curiosity, equipped with an earlier variation of AutoNav, covers about 66 feet (20 meters) per hour as it climbs up Mount Sharp to the southeast.
” We accelerated AutoNav by 4 or 5 times,” stated Michael McHenry, the movement domain lead and part of JPLs team of rover coordinators. “Were driving a lot farther in a lot less time than Curiosity demonstrated.”
As Perseverance starts its very first science project on the floor of Jezero Crater, AutoNav will be a crucial function in helping do the job.
This crater as soon as was a lake, when, billions of years back, Mars was wetter than today, and Perseverances destination is a dried-out river delta at the craters edge. If life ever took hold on early Mars, signs of it might be discovered there. The rover will collect samples over some 9 miles (15 kilometers), then prep the samples for collection by a future objective that would take them back to Earth for analysis.
” Were going to have the ability to get to locations the researchers desire to go far more quickly,” said Jennifer Trosper, who has actually dealt with every one of NASAs Martian rovers and is the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover project manager. “Now we have the ability to drive through these more complex terrains rather of going around them: Its not something weve been able to do before.”
The Human Element
Of course, Perseverance cant get by on AutoNav alone. The participation of the rover group stays important in preparation and driving Perseverances route. A whole team of professionals establishes a navigation path in addition to planning the rovers activity, whether its examining a geologically interesting function en route to its destination or, quickly, taking samples.
Computer Simulation of Perseverances First Autonav Drive: This computer system simulation reveals NASAs Perseverance Mars rover as it carried out its first drive utilizing its auto-navigation function, which allows it to avoid rocks and other hazards without input from engineers back in the world. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
They cant just move the rover forward with a joystick due to the fact that of the radio signal hold-up in between Earth and Mars. Rather, they scrutinize satellite images, in some cases donning those 3D glasses to see the Martian surface in the rovers vicinity. Once the team signs off, they beam the instructions to Mars, and the rover carries out those directions the list below day.
Perseverances wheels were customized too to assist with simply how promptly those strategies are executed: Along with being slightly greater in diameter and narrower than Curiositys wheels, they each function 48 treads that look like somewhat wavy lines, as opposed to Curiositys 24 chevron-pattern treads. The goals were to aid with traction along with sturdiness.
” Curiosity couldnt AutoNav since of the wheel-wear concern,” Trosper stated. “Early in the mission, we experienced small, sharp, pointy rocks starting to put holes in the wheels, and our AutoNav didnt prevent those.”
Higher clearance for Perseverances stomach also enables the rover to roll safely over rougher ground– consisting of good-size rocks. And Perseverances beefed-up auto-navigation capabilities include ENav, or enhanced navigation, an algorithm-and-software mix that permits more accurate danger detection.
Unlike its predecessors, Perseverance can use among its computers simply for navigation on the surface area; its primary computer system can devote itself to the numerous other tasks that keep the rover healthy and active.
This Vision Compute Element, or VCE, guided Perseverance to the Martian surface area throughout its entry, descent, and landing in February. Now its being utilized full-time to draw up the rovers journey while assisting it avoid trouble along the way.
The rover also tracks how far its moved from one area to another using a system called “visual odometry.” Perseverance periodically catches images as it moves, comparing one position to the beside see if it moved the expected range.
Team members state they look forward to letting AutoNav “take the wheel.” But theyll also be all set to intervene when needed.
And simply what is it like to drive on Mars? The coordinators and chauffeurs say it never gets old.
” Jezero is extraordinary,” Verma stated. “Its a rover motorists paradise. You see so much more waviness in the surface when you put on the 3D glasses. Some days I just look at the images.”

The view seen here integrates the point of view of two video cameras rover during the rovers first drive utilizing AutoNav, its auto-navigation function. 3D Glasses Used for Rover Driving: Vandi Verma, an engineer who now works with NASAs Perseverance Mars rover, is seen here working as a motorist for the Curiosity rover. The special 3D glasses shes wearing are still used by rover drivers to quickly discover changes in surface that the rover may need to prevent. The involvement of the rover team stays critical in planning and driving Perseverances route. As soon as the group indications off, they beam the guidelines to Mars, and the rover performs those guidelines the following day.

Perseverances First Autonav Drive: Perseverance depends on left and right navigation video cameras. The view seen here integrates the perspective of 2 cams rover during the rovers first drive utilizing AutoNav, its auto-navigation function. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The firms latest rover is travelling across the Martian landscape using a recently improved auto-navigation system.
NASAs latest six-wheeled robotic on Mars, the Perseverance rover, is beginning an epic journey throughout a crater floor looking for indications of ancient life. That implies the rover group is deeply engaged with preparing navigation paths, drafting instructions to be beamed up, even donning unique 3D glasses to help map their course.