Novel Methods for Multi-hop Sensor Positioning on the Surface of a Solar System Body

Abstract

Fundamental methods used in space research and exploration are continuously changing and developing, depending on the major scientific target of the community. Currently, we use space probes and expensive rovers to discover and analyze the surface of solar system bodies. However, these rovers could be replaced with thousands of cheaper sensors which are organized into a sensor network. In order to monitor the surface and the atmosphere of a solar system body, positioning accuracy and energy efficiency are key determining factors in such a network. In this article, a mobile sensor network capable of measuring and forwarding data on the surface of a distant planet is investigated, and several problems of spatial positioning are addressed.