For future human planetary missions, work assignments can be enhanced using robotics to complement the human explorers' activities either autonomously or via remote supervision. The Intelligent Robotics Group (IRG) at NASA Ames has been working to improve human exploration of space to develop and field test robots that work before, in support, and after humans.
Future human missions to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations offer many
new opportunities for exploration. Astronaut time, however, will always be
limited and some work will not be feasible for humans to do manually. To address this, robots can be used to complement human explorers, performing work autonomously and under remote supervision from Earth. A central challenge, therefore, is to understand how human and robot activities can be
coordinated to maximize mission success and scientific return.
Robots can do a variety of work to increase the productivity of human
explorers. Robots can perform tasks (survey, inspection, etc.) that are
tedious, highly-repetitive or long-duration. Robots can perform tasks ahead
of crew, such as advance scouting, that help prepare for future human
activity. Robots can work in support of crew, assisting or performing tasks
in parallel. Robots can also perform "follow-up" work, completing tasks
designated or started by humans.
In this talk, I will present some of the ways in which the NASA Ames
Intelligent Robotics Group (IRG) has been working to improve human exploration of space. A central focus of our research has been to develop and field
test robots that work before, in support, and after humans. Our approach is
inspired by lessons learned from the Mars Exploration Rovers, as well as
human spaceflight programs, including Apollo, the Space Shuttle, and the
International Space Station.
