Construction of a Robot Remote Control and Communication System in a Ground Demonstration Field for Future Lunar and Planetary Exploration

In Fukushima Prefecture, there is a huge base for the development and demonstration of robots, called the Fukushima Robot Test Field (RTF). We plan to develop a part of the RTF as a ground demonstration field for future lunar and planetary explorations. Specifically, we are working on the construction of a new relay communication system connecting the 3 bases: RTF – Univ. of Aizu (UoA) – remote users, so that robots at the RTF can be operated and tested by remote users. This communication path is geometrically analogous to the data communication in actual missions, e.g., multi-robots on the Moon – lunar Gateway – Earth observation center. A communication emulator has been installed in the relay system, therefore users can add artificial delays, packet loss, and noise in the pathway to simulate and verify the actual Earth-Moon communication environment. This project is part of the Moon/Mars Garden (Hakoniwa) Project conducted by UoA.