The
embedded computer system
A computer is a machine that can be programmed to automatically carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (''computation''). Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic sets of operations known as ''programs'', wh ...
s onboard
Mars rovers are designed to
withstand high radiation levels and large temperature changes in space. For this reason their computational resources are limited compared to systems commonly used on Earth.
[Max Bajracharya, Mark W. Maimone, Daniel Helmick (2008) (]Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a Federally funded research and development centers, federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) in La Cañada Flintridge, California, Crescenta Valley, United States. Founded in 1936 by Cali ...
and California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech) is a private research university in Pasadena, California, United States. The university is responsible for many modern scientific advancements and is among a small group of institutes ...
); ''Autonomy for Mars rovers: past, present, and future''; published in: ''Computer
A computer is a machine that can be Computer programming, programmed to automatically Execution (computing), carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (''computation''). Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic set ...
'', a journal of the IEEE
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is an American 501(c)(3) organization, 501(c)(3) public charity professional organization for electrical engineering, electronics engineering, and other related disciplines.
The IEEE ...
Computer Society, December 2008, Volume 41, Number 12, page 45, .
In operation
Direct
teleoperation of a Mars rover is impractical, as the round trip communication time between Earth and Mars ranges from 8 to 42 minutes and the
Deep Space Network
The NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) is a worldwide Telecommunications network, network of spacecraft communication ground segment facilities, located in the United States (California), Spain (Madrid), and Australia (Canberra), that supports NASA' ...
system is only available a few times during each Martian day (
sol).
Therefore, a rover command team plans, then sends, a sol of operational commands to the rover at one time.
A rover uses
autonomy
In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy is the capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision. Autonomous organizations or institutions are independent or self-governing. Autonomy can also be ...
software
Software consists of computer programs that instruct the Execution (computing), execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications.
The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital comput ...
to make decisions based on observations from its sensors.
Each pair of stereo images for the ''
Sojourner
A sojourner is a person who resides temporarily in a place.
Sojourner may also refer to:
People
* Sojourner Truth (1797–1883), abolitionist and women's rights activist
* Albert Sojourner (1872–1951), member of the Mississippi House of Rep ...
'' rover could generate 20 3D navigation points. The
Mars Exploration Rover
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission was a robotic space mission involving two Mars rovers, ''Spirit (rover), Spirit'' and ''Opportunity (rover), Opportunity'', exploring the planet Mars. It began in 2003 with the launch of the two rove ...
s can generate 15,000 (nominal) to 40,000 (survey mode) 3D points.
Performance comparisons
With the exception of ''
Curiosity
Curiosity (from Latin , from "careful, diligent, curious", akin to "care") is a quality related to inquisitive thinking, such as exploration, investigation, and learning, evident in humans and other animals. Curiosity helps Developmental psyc ...
'' and ''
Perseverance'', each Mars rover has had only one on-board computer. Both ''Curiosity'' and ''Perseverance'' have two identical computers for redundancy. ''Curiosity'' is, as of February 2013, operating on its redundant computer, while its primary computer is being investigated for signs of failure.
Mars rovers
See also
*
Radiation hardening
Radiation hardening is the process of making electronic components and circuits resistant to damage or malfunction caused by high levels of ionizing radiation (particle radiation and high-energy electromagnetic radiation), especially for environm ...
References
External links
The CPUs of Spacecraft Computers in SpaceRadiation‑hardened electronics product guide- BAE Systems
{{DEFAULTSORT:Comparison of Embedded Computer Systems on Board The Mars Rovers
Space technology
Exploration of Mars
Computing comparisons