When it comes to exploration of our neighboring moons and planets, robots must be able to navigate unknown terrains efficiently over extreme terrains with no roads or trails. From navigating challenging terrains on Mars by rovers to deliver critical supplies to astronauts on the surface of Moon using Lunar Transport Vehicles (LTVs), robots need the intelligence to navigate in dangerous and complex environments with resiliency, agility, and without human intervention. To this end, JPL is participating in DARPA’s RACER program (Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency).
The RACER program aims to deliver agile, adaptive, and resilient autonomy for ground vehicles racing across never-before-seen terrains. Equipped with a wide array of sensors and computers, the RACER vehicle represents the cutting-edge of high-speed off-road autonomous vehicle design. Our mission is to equip this vehicle with the intelligence it needs to fully autonomously navigate through treacherous and unknown terrain, at superhuman speeds, within a desired margin of safety.
To learn more about the DARPA RACER program contact Dr. Curtis Padgett.
Link to DARPA's RACER webpage: https://www.darpa.mil/program/robotic-autonomy-in-complex-environments-with-resiliency