A swarm of sensors and robots showcases Moon exploration potential

A swarm of sensors and robots showcases Moon exploration potential
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 20, 2024

A unique lunar research initiative is underway in the LUNA hall, where the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is advancing exploration technologies for the Moon. At the core of the project is a swarm navigation network, connecting payload boxes, sensors, rovers, and astronauts into a synchronized web for seamless communication and navigation.

"Every robot, sensor or astronaut becomes a participant in the network, passing on information to its neighbours. We calculate the distances between participants by measuring the time it takes for radio signals to travel between them. Using this method, we can determine the exact positions of all participants within the network," said Emanuel Staudinger, project manager at the DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation. He noted that the system operates without centralized infrastructure, enabling robust performance even in complex or remote environments, such as lava caves on Earth or extraterrestrial terrains like the Moon and Mars.

Collaborative robotic operations

Staudinger's team has already demonstrated the system's potential in natural settings like Italy's Mount Etna and lava caves in Lanzarote, Spain. For the first time, they successfully tested the system in the LUNA hall at DLR's Cologne site, designed to emulate the lunar surface. Opened in September 2024 as a collaboration between DLR and the European Space Agency (ESA), the facility aims to prepare astronauts and robots for future Moon missions.

"Our colleagues from the DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation are among the first to conduct research here," explained Thomas Uhlig from the LUNA project team. "We've already received numerous requests from various fields for access to LUNA. The future looks exciting."

In one test scenario, a lander deployed two rovers. The first rover established a network of radio beacons to aid navigation, while the second rover explored a simulated three-meter-deep crater. Assisted by navigation data relayed from the first rover, the second rover performed scientific investigations within the crater. Additional experiments involved deploying a network of up to 50 sensors in terrain unsuitable for rovers and testing methods for distributing these sensors, including aerial deployment into inaccessible areas.

Simulating lunar conditions

To validate their findings, the research team developed a detailed 3D model of the LUNA hall's surface. The floor is covered in regolith simulant, a material mimicking the properties of Moon dust collected during Apollo missions. These models not only supported navigation experiments but also enhanced simulations for further research.

The DLR researchers are now analyzing data from these trials to refine the swarm navigation system. Their ultimate goal is to develop reliable, decentralized tools to support astronaut and robotic missions on the Moon and other planets. The system's versatility also has potential applications on Earth in environments where conventional navigation tools fail, such as underground or disaster-stricken areas.