Charlie prototype completes desert trial with Rosalind Franklin rover software
An Airbus-built prototype called Charlie completed a field trial in Spain's Tabernas desert during a 20-day test campaign. It covered 220 metres over eight days while using guidance, navigation and control software matching the Rosalind Franklin rover's.
- Airbus-built Charlie drove 220 metres across the Tabernas desert in eight days.
- The prototype ran guidance, navigation and control software matching the Rosalind Franklin rover's.
- On day six, Charlie drove more than 60 metres with no operator and a navigation error under 1%.
- The 20-day campaign used a digital elevation map to confirm the slope was gently inclined.
- Rosalind Franklin's mission is to search for evidence of life with instruments including PanCam, CLUPI, Enfys and WISDOM.
What happened
A prototype rover called Charlie completed a field trial in the Tabernas desert in south-eastern Spain. The Airbus-built vehicle covered 220 metres of barren terrain over eight days. It took commands from a science team 1200 kilometres away.
What we know
Charlie is a prototype built by Airbus. It ran guidance, navigation and control software matching the Rosalind Franklin rover's.
The trial took place in the Tabernas desert in south-eastern Spain. Rain interrupted testing in the desert.
Over eight days, Charlie covered 220 metres of barren terrain. It followed instructions from a science team 1200 kilometres away.
On day six, the rover drove more than 60 metres with no operator at the wheel. Its navigation error was less than 1%.
The test campaign lasted 20 days. A digital elevation map let teams confirm the slope was gently inclined.
The Rover Operations Control Centre (ROCC) is in Turin, Italy.
The Rosalind Franklin rover's main mission objective is to search for evidence of life. Its instruments include PanCam, CLUPI, Enfys and WISDOM, and they are designed to detect clues to ancient microbial activity.
Why it matters
For readers tracking the lunar industry, the trial shows how remote command, autonomy and terrain assessment can be validated in a field campaign. The guidance, navigation and control software in the trial matches the Rosalind Franklin rover's, whose landing date is 2030.
What's next
The Rosalind Franklin rover has a landing date of 2030.
What we are not sure about
- The facts do not state that the science team was based at the Rover Operations Control Centre.
- The facts do not identify Charlie's intended mission destination.
Sources
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