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Tim Peake drives remote robot on Earth from orbit Tim Peake drives remote robot on Earth from orbit
(about 1 hour later)
UK astronaut Tim Peake has begun his big remote control experiment on the space station. UK astronaut Tim Peake has performed a challenging remote control experiment on the International Space Station.
He is commanding a robot rover on Earth, driving it across a big sandpit in Stevenage that simulates the surface of the Red Planet. He had to command a robot rover on Earth, driving it across a big sandpit in Stevenage, near London, that simulated the surface of Mars.
The Briton is clearly enjoying himself, racing through the tasks he was set. The Briton experienced some software glitches, but achieved his objectives.
It is all part of a European Space Agency project that aims to learn how astronauts can operate systems on other worlds at a distance. These involved finding a series of painted targets in a darkened room that had been set up to represent a cave on the Red Planet.
Known as Meteron (Multi-Purpose End-To-End Robotic Operation Network), the programme has already seen Danish ISS crewman Andreas Mogensen get a robot on Earth to put pegs in a series of holes. It was all part of a European Space Agency (Esa) project which aims to learn how astronauts can control remote systems on other worlds.
But Major Tim's job, which got under way at 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT), takes things up a notch. Known as Meteron (Multi-Purpose End-To-End Robotic Operation Network), the programme has already seen Danish ISS crewman Andreas Mogensen get a robot on Earth to precisely place some pegs in a set of holes.
He is having to drive a prototype Mars rover through a darkened "cave" to find and map a number of targets. But Major Tim's job, which got under way at 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT), took things up a notch in terms of complexity.
It is very much a test for man and machine - and all the connections in between. One of his big obstacles was time. His control link had to transmit down to Earth, bounce through numerous communications nodes, before reaching the robot in its simulation "Mars yard" at the Airbus Defence and Space Company.
For starters, Major Tim is floating inside the space station which is orbiting at 27,000km/h. He has to keep himself steady as he looks at relayed video and other information on the screens of three laptops. It meant every command - and all the feedback - had several seconds of associated delay. His link also had some drop-outs.
Then there is the issue of latency. His control link has to transmit down to Earth, bounce through numerous communications nodes, before reaching the robot in its simulation "Mars Yard" at the Airbus Defence and Space Company. At one point, he hit a big rock, which required the intervention of local Airbus engineers to sort out; and then there were some software glitches on the laptops he was using in orbit.
It means every command - and all the feedback - has several seconds of delay. His link will also have to contend with drop-outs. But despite all this, Major Tim managed to race through his tasks, finding and mapping five targets in the cave. These targets were boulders that had been painted to show up in the UV light shone from the rover's masthead.
Major Tim was given 90 minutes to meet his objectives. The astronaut managed to get in and out of the cave within two hours.
Both the US space agency rovers on the Red Planet today, and those planned in coming years, use a high level of autonomy. Once instructed to go to a location, the vehicles will sense their surroundings and compute the most efficient route. But it is a very slow process.Both the US space agency rovers on the Red Planet today, and those planned in coming years, use a high level of autonomy. Once instructed to go to a location, the vehicles will sense their surroundings and compute the most efficient route. But it is a very slow process.
The scenario suggested by Friday's simulation is the possibility that we might one day have an astronaut in orbit above Mars who could assist a surface robot in investigating a location that engineers would normally try to avoid.The scenario suggested by Friday's simulation is the possibility that we might one day have an astronaut in orbit above Mars who could assist a surface robot in investigating a location that engineers would normally try to avoid.
Going into a cave would be extremely risky. The lack of light would make it harder for the sensors on the autonomous navigation system to discern hazards. And with no sunlight falling on the robot's solar panels, the amount of energy available to operate in the cave might very quickly become an issue.Going into a cave would be extremely risky. The lack of light would make it harder for the sensors on the autonomous navigation system to discern hazards. And with no sunlight falling on the robot's solar panels, the amount of energy available to operate in the cave might very quickly become an issue.
Having a human in the loop could help speed up decision-making, ensuring the rover completes its science investigations with enough time to get back outside the cave and start recharging its batteries.Having a human in the loop could help speed up decision-making, ensuring the rover completes its science investigations with enough time to get back outside the cave and start recharging its batteries.
Airbus DS is leading the development of the rover that Esa will send to Mars in 2018 or, more likely, in 2020. As part of this project, it uses a number of "breadboard" robots to test flight hardware and software.Airbus DS is leading the development of the rover that Esa will send to Mars in 2018 or, more likely, in 2020. As part of this project, it uses a number of "breadboard" robots to test flight hardware and software.
For Friday's experiment, Major Tim is controlling the breadboard known as Bridget. For Friday's experiment, Major Tim was controlling the breadboard known as Bridget.
He has to command the vehicle to drive up to targets inside the cave that have been marked with ultraviolet paint. Illuminated by a light on Bridget, he is trying to centre these markings in the camera view. He will keep ground control informed of his progress. A webcast of the trial was streamed on the Airbus DS website and the Principia website of Major Tim himself. Updates were also posted on the Twitter feeds of @esaoperations and @esa_meteron.
A webcast of the trial is currently being streamed on the Airbus DS website and the Principia website of Major Tim himself. Updates are also being posted on the Twitter feeds of @esaoperations and @esa_meteron.
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmosJonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos