PSUMS Rover Performance:

One of the major goals of Crew 50 is to test a rover built by the Penn State University Mars Society (PSUMS) team and use the results to help determine rules and objectives for a University Robotics Competition (URC). The PSUMS rover is designed to be a robotic assistant for an astronaut during an EVA, so the specifications to which it was built fits well for the URC. Its current features include a locomotion system and a gripper that is suitable for precise placement and retrieval of objects. The rover testing will focus on finding the limits of both the rover's mobility and the effectiveness of its gripper. Mobility tests will include determining the rover's maximum speed and the maximum incline it can handle in different types of terrain. Gripping tests will include the deployment and retrieval of a 10-pound object.

Human-Machine Interaction:

The human-machine relationship is one of the most complex connections in the world today. This relationship will also be important during a manned mission to Mars. Our purpose during MDRS Crew 50 will be to analyze the astronaut-rover relationship in extreme conditions as it pertains to day to day operations on Mars. The primary purpose of a rover is to assist an astronaut in the execution of his/her mission objectives and to derive as much science as possible while not wasting vital astronaut labor time doing monotonous tasks. To best utilize time spent on the surface, there should be an understanding of the limitations and benefits of the use of a rover or any robotics. How many rovers should be operated as well as what capabilities they should have are questions that need to be addressed. What the rovers can and cannot do significantly affects the tasks and capabilities of astronauts on the surface. Problems are always common in any human-machine interaction, thus we will study possible troubles and potential solutions to this relationship as well.