Mars ‘Fetch Rover’ successfully tested sample pickup in field

Science: European aerospace giant Airbus has taken two of its Mars rovers to a quarry near London for field testing, demonstrating for the first time a new robotic arm capable of automatically collecting samples on an alien planet. The company also carried out tests on a model of the ExoMars rover, which will improve the navigation system and allow the robot to reach Mars in 2028 and explore more land.

During the experiment, a demonstration model of the Mars sample retrieval rover called Cody received coordinates from a dummy ground control station, which guided it to the location where the dummy Mars sample was located. The rover then used an internal map and an independent navigation system consisting of a pair of stereo cameras to reach the sample.

Airbus has tested the rover in the quarry twice in recent years, but in this year’s test campaign Airbus will not only drive it, but also collect samples. It also had to do it completely independently. The spacecraft moves at a slow speed of about 2.75 inches per second (7 cm per second), stopping frequently to assess the surrounding terrain and use stereo cameras to determine the safest and most efficient route. During the test, the spacecraft was able to travel relatively long distances without human intervention. “We set a record for a rover traveling 300 meters (980 feet) in one day alone and without stopping,” Airbus rover program manager Chris Draper told Space.com.