Advances in Space Robotics Autonomy

This chapter presents recent advances in space robotics autonomy technology, some of which have been successfully deployed in NASA missions. In-situ planetary exploration presents unique challenges that can only be addressed by using autonomy technologies. The process of developing command sequences to send to an unmanned planetary spacecraft has always been time-consuming and laborintensive. For future long-duration planetary missions reducing the operations team workload is paramount owing to considerations for human factors, maximizing science return, and optimizing mission resources. Autonomy is a key enabling technology for future long-duration planetary missions such as human precursor missions to Mars, Mars Sample Return missions, Comet Sample Return missions, and in-situ missions to Titan and Europa. With the unprecedented back-to-back successful landing on Mars of the NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs), Spirit and Opportunity (2004), Phoenix Mars Lander (2008), and Mars Science Laboratory (2012) over the last decade the robotics autonomous systems community has celebrated several onboard autonomous technologies milestones.