Innovative Rover Operations Concepts - Autonomous Planner (IRONCAP) - Supporting Rover Operations Planning on Ground

Abstract

IRONCAP is an ESA study project to explore and define the concepts, techniques and interactions needed to plan and schedule the activities of an interplanetary rover. Its aim is to develop a prototype system to support the science and engineering planning activities of an interplanetary rover using state-of-the-art methods and techniques in planning and scheduling combined with existing and/or developing ground segment systems and technologies. The prototype will support the situational analysis of the rover and facilitate the planning and scheduling of activities/observation for the applicable autonomy levels, supporting the teams in their daily activities. As with any rover mission, situational assessment of the rover has to be performed to establish the context in which the planning of operations can be performed. This is performed on an engineering level and on a science level both with their own goals and objectives. Our paper will discuss this topic further and the issues between the two.