Astrolab and JPL Demonstrate Marsupial Rover Deployment Concept
With the ability to transport and deploy modular payload, Astrolab’s FLEX rover transported JPL’s Axel rover during a multi-day field test to highlight a robotic solution for exploring challenging terrains on the Moon and Mars
HAWTHORNE, CALIF. – October 14, 2022 – Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab), an emerging aerospace company formed by a team of industry leading planetary rover and robotics experts, announces today a collaboration with NASA’S Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to demonstrate a marsupial rover development concept to explore challenging terrains on planetary surfaces. Just like a young kangaroo nestled in its mother’s pouch, Astrolab’s Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover transported JPL’s Axel rover on the belly of the FLEX chassis during a multi-day field test in Dumont Dunes, Calif., in December 2021.
Out in the Field
During the test, FLEX was used to drive Axel to the edge of extreme terrain, which included a sheer cliff with more than a two story foot vertical drop. Axel is a tethered robot that can rappel down vertical terrain with the capability to traverse landscapes that are unreachable for conventional wheeled vehicles. In the field, Axel and its anchor were placed near the edge of the cliff and FLEX was free to perform other functions, demonstrating FLEX’s novel mobility system architecture, which gives it the ability to pick up and deposit modular payloads in support of robotic science, exploration, logistics, site survey/preparation, construction, resource utilization, and other activities critical to a sustained presence on the Moon and beyond.
The Marsupial Approach
Challenging terrains on planetary surfaces appear to offer some of the most interesting scientific sites to explore and mine for resources. For example, some scientists believe that there is hidden water inside some of the Moon”s permanently shadowed craters. On Mars, the discovery of possible briny water flows have been observed on the inside walls some craters. Exploring and sampling such locations using robotic vehicles is very challenging, but a marisupial rover deployment offers a solution that could enable deeper scientific research for sites that are largely out of reach.
“The benefit of the marsupial rover approach is that it enables more opportunities for studying extreme terrain, such as a crater on the Moon or a gully on Mars,” said Jaret Matthews, CEO of Astrolab. “As we explore new planets, FLEX can stay a safe distance away from challenging surfaces and after deploying Axel and its anchor, FLEX can conduct exploration in the surrounding area or provide power and communication support through the Axel tether as it descends into a permanently shadowed crater or cave.”
Axel
Axel is a minimalist rover that is tethered to its host and is capable of in-situ measurements and sampling on such terrains. Its tether provides mechanical support on steeper slopes and delivers power and communication from a host platform. Axel can point its body and deploy instruments on rough surfaces. Designed to minimize complexity and increase robustness, the Axel rover uses a symmetrical design, which allows it to continue to operate in the event it flips over. It houses four primary actuators to control its two wheels, its boom, and an internal spool that carries hundreds of meters of tether.
FLEX
FLEX is a multi-functional rover designed around a modular payload agnostic interface that supports intermodal transportation (from lander to rover and back). FLEX can work within an ecosystem of transportation systems, vehicles and tools. Astrolab aims to bring to market a fleet of FLEX rovers to provide the mobility required to support a sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars.
About Astrolab
Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is on a mission to move humanity forward to the next horizon by designing, building and operating a fleet of multi-purpose rovers for all planetary surface needs. Formed by a highly specialized team of NASA veterans, former SpaceXers and JPL engineers, Astrolab is laser-focused on providing adaptive mobility solutions essential for life beyond Earth. The team has industry leading experience in terrestrial and planetary robotics, electric vehicles, human spaceflight and more. Astrolab’s depth of experience and strategic partnerships with a wide array of world-class institutions, including electric vehicle pioneer Venturi Group, enables the delivery of Lunar and Mars mobility offerings at maximum reliability, flexibility and cost effectiveness. The company is headquartered in Hawthorne, California. For more information, visit astrolab.space and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.