Project Moonwalk : lessons learnt from testing human robot collaboration scenarios in a lunar and Martian simulation

There is a global interest to send humans to the moon and to Mars and diverse early preparations are underway. One important aspect in preparing for future challenges is to develop technologies and tools that can help in simulation activities to train for future missions. Humans will be supported by robots on their missions in exploring and conducting science on extra-terrestrial surfaces. The paper summarizes all the efforts undertaken by six European partners as part of a research and technology project in the European Union’s Space Framework Programme. Under the lead of the DFKI (German Centre for Artificial Intelligence), industry partners Comex France, Airbus Group UK, Space Applications Services Belgium, LIQUIFER Systems Group Austria and the research institutions NTNU – Norway (Samfunnsforsking, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Space) and INTA (Centro de Astrobiologia) – Spain collaborated to develop simulation hardware (space simulation suit, assistant rover) and tools (communications system, sampling) for human robot interaction. The general objective of MOONWALK was to enhance European capabilities for future human space exploration, especially surface Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) for the moon and Mars. This was targeted through research, development and evaluation of operations concepts and technologies for exploration and exobiologyrelated EVA tasks, focusing on human-robot collaboration and the development of earth-analogue simulation equipment. During a two-week simulation campaign conducting Martian scenarios, in Rio Tinto, Spain, a simulation astronaut and assistant rover collaborated as partners in mapping, surveying and sampling activities. Rio Tinto is an internationally recognized Martian analogue, having extremophile life similar to that on Mars, due to the pronounced mineral content of the region and the bacterial that feeds upon it. SHEE, the first European self-deployable simulation habitat, served as local mission control, and as ingress/egress for the suited astronaut. Lunar simulations were conducted in a depth of 10-metres, off the coast of Marseilles in open sea, and added to both which additional to the logistic challenge added a psychological challenge. Mission control for both analogues, was located near Brussels. The paper will describe the set-up, components, the analysis and validation of the performed analogue missions with respect to technical and human factors. A dataset comprising of 120 variables, 75 responses and 14 respondents was analysed. Additionally, an open question survey was collected, 52 lessons learned, including many comments about components. Data was gathered from 28 different EVAs, comparing an astronaut-astronaut team versus the astronaut-robot team in terms of performance and psychological impact. 69 International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Adelaide, Australia, 25-29 September 2017. Copyright ©2017 by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). All rights reserved. IAC-17-F1.2.3 Page 2 of 12