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This approach shares control of the rover using a command fusion strategy: In benign situations, users remotely drive the rover; in hazardous situations, a safeguarding system running on-board the rover overwrites user commands to ensure vehicle safety. ...This approach shares control of the rover using a command fusion strategy: In benign situations, users remotely drive the rover; in hazardous situations, a safeguarding system running on-board the rover overwrites user commands to ensure vehicle safety. This strategy satisfies users, because it allows them to drive (except in hazardous situations), while maintaining the integrity of the rover and mission. ...This strategy satisfies users, because it allows them to drive (except in hazardous situations), while maintaining the integrity of the rover and mission. We present results from experiments on untrained teleoperators with and without safeguarding, which reveal needs to be met by future user interfaces.

This paper discusses the Inukshuk landed rover mission to Mars that is currently undergoing the Phase 0 mission study for the Canadian Space Agency. ...The Inukshuk landed rover mission addresses key science themes for planetary exploration; focusing on the search for hydrated mineralogy and subsurface water sites that can provide evidence of past or present life. ...New exploration and science will be accomplished using an innovative tethered combination of a small rover and a self-elevating sky-cam aerostat. The elevating visible (VIS) imager, at about 10 m altitude, will provide an informative high-resolution 2-D view of the rover below and surrounding terrain to greatly assist the semi-autonomous navigation of the rover around obstacles and selection of sites for detailed subsurface exploration.

Based on a study of a Mobile Pressurized Laboratory (MPL) concept made during the European Mars Mission Architecture Study conducted for ESA, further design development of the laboratory and interior functional layout of the rover has been performed. This includes volume optimization, wheel system and geometry, interior layout and functional zoning, airlock placement and ergonomics, radiation protection, ergonomic detailing of habitation functions like sleep, kitchen, hygiene, ergonomics of work environment for driver, glove box, laboratory and storage systems and spatial flexibility and adaptability.

A part of the facility will include a Mars EVA Suit Airlock (MESA) designed specifically for surface EVA operations, which can be integrated in habitable modules or mobile pressurized rovers. The key driver for the design of MESA is the prevention or minimization of contamination of the habitable volume arising from EVA and sampling activities and the transport of contaminants from Earth to Mars and from Mars to Earth.

This paper discusses recent advances in the binary-coded IOSPEC technology towards providing an integrated chemical analysis system for manned space systems and planetary rovers. An active shutter array is being developed based on a thin-film structure that enables broad-band optical switching and multiplexing at ms speeds with no moving parts for reliable long-term operation.

Closer to completion The International Space Station proves to be an ongoing engineering experiment with an ultimate goal of becoming a human space-living reality. High-speed interconnects An industry expert from Tyco Electronics explores emerging electronics applications in the aerospace and defense markets that involve the transfer of large volumes of high-speed data. Collaboration software Interactive product development tools are now widely available, and they can decrease design time and cast, improve quality, and help generate new business. Introducing Dr. Jack E. Thompson, SAE President for 2003 A change agent with early roots in the automotive industry gets in the Society's driver's seat for 2003.