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21-539: D-RATS may refer to: Desert Research and Technology Studies , teams that study systems for human exploration of the surface of the Moon or other rocky bodies D-RATS, an emergency communication tool based on the D-STAR digital communication protocol for amateur radio operators Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with

42-552: A mobile, crewed "base" supported by ATHLETEs capable of traversing thousands of kilometers and setting down temporarily to study interesting features along the way. Planning for the future of the ATHLETE includes the ability to scale difficult obstacles by means of employing a launchable/releasable grappling hook and line which it will use to haul itself up even vertical slopes. There are also plans to introduce provisions for voice and gesture commands from suited astronauts in proximity to

63-505: A multi-purpose system capable of docking or mating with special-purpose devices including refueling stations, excavation implements and/or special end effectors. The legs have six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) for generalized robotic manipulation. Each ATHLETE is intended to have a payload capacity of 450 kilograms (990 lb), in Earth's gravity with the capability of docking multiple ATHLETE vehicles together to support larger loads. The ATHLETE

84-733: A simulated mission to a near-Earth asteroid. A virtual reality lab provided an immersive environment for the extravehicular activity (EVA) crewmembers, integrating real-time graphics with crewmember motions and kinesthetic sensations of large objects – an asteroid in this case. The Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS), a crane-based, reduced-gravity system, allowed crews to conduct EVAs in simulated microgravity . All-Terrain Hex-Legged Extra-Terrestrial Explorer ATHLETE (All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer)

105-1081: A wireless network and other. At D-RATS 2005 technology demonstrated included the: Spacesuits, SCOUT (Science, Crew, Operations and Utility Testbed) Rover, a system to recharge air tanks while they're in use and other. At D-RATS 2006 technology demonstrated included the: ATHLETE, Robonaut/Centaur, Pressurized Rover Compartment, SCOUT Rover, electric tractor and other. At D-RATS 2007 technology demonstrated included the: Spacesuits, SCOUT rover and other. At D-RATS 2008 technology demonstrated included the: Space Exploration Vehicle , CHARIOT , spacesuits, ATHLETE and other. At D-RATS 2009 technology demonstrated included the: Space Exploration Vehicle (including Chassis B), Tri-ATHLETE , spacesuits, K-10 robots and other. At D-RATS 2010 technology demonstrated included the: Space Exploration Vehicle, Habitat Demonstration Unit/Pressurized Excursion Module - including Geolab, Tri-ATHLETE, Centaur 2, Portable Utility Pallets, Portable Communication Terminal Concept and other. In addition, operational concepts explored included understanding

126-494: Is a six-legged robotic lunar rover under development by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). ATHLETE is a testbed for systems, and is designed for use on the Moon . The system is in development along with NASA 's Johnson and Ames Centers, Stanford University and Boeing . ATHLETE is designed, for maximum efficiency, to be able to both roll and walk over a wide range of terrains. The project aims to develop

147-530: Is aiming for a 10-year life span, and the capability for re-usable delivery vehicles would mean that the goal of " an affordable lunar-surface flight experiment that demonstrates this technology on the Moon and subsequently uses it as part of the Human Lunar Return campaign to perform the needed robotic or human vehicle functions on the lunar surface. " ATHLETE's purpose is to support lunar exploration operations. One hypothetical mission scenario features

168-502: Is much larger than robotic systems previously used and has a diameter of around 4 metres (13 ft) and a reach of around 6 metres (20 ft). Even with this larger size the project has allowed the facility for multiple units to be stowed and docked compactly for launch into an annular ring. This would mean that many vehicles can be efficiently stacked around a main payload on a single lander. The six 6-DOF legs allow more capabilities than other robotic systems such as Sojourner or

189-629: Is much worse, the lag can be up to 20 minutes each way. Effective strategies for communicating under these conditions include utilizing text messaging, specific voice protocols, and a relay crew member that is not participating in the EVA. The 2012 Desert RATS field tests did not involve either a desert, or a field; rather, they were conducted in JSC's Building 9, the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility. The tools and simulators were configured and optimized for

210-540: Is provided by the Mission Operations Exploration Planning and Operations Center (ExPOC) in Houston . Through live videoconferencing with NASA Explorer Schools and simultaneous webcasts, students around the world are able to watch Desert RATS activities live. The public is also encouraged to follow along through various social media means, including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Ustream. During

231-562: The Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Marshall Space Flight Center , as well as contractors Hamilton Sundstrand and ILC Dover , and researchers from numerous universities and institutes, including the Carnegie Institute , the Universities Space Research Association , and Virginia Commonwealth University . In 2010, there were about 200 scientists, engineers, and mission planners participating. Mission support

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252-533: The Mars Exploration Rovers . These mean that the slopes it could climb would be up to 35° on solid surfaces and 25° on soft surfaces, such as the soft deposits of dust found on the Moon . Plans are to develop the system's capability of travel over rougher terrain and to increase the speed of ATHLETE to 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) per hour, 100 times faster than the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. The JPL

273-561: The University of Wisconsin–Madison will be joined to the HDU and provide crew quarters for the astronaut/geologist crews. One of the operational concepts that were explored in the 2011 field season was the effect of communication time delays. This is not a major challenge for lunar explorers as the time lag is only a couple of seconds, but at a near-Earth asteroid the time lag might be a minute or more, making normal conversation impossible. At Mars, it

294-618: The Moon, near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), Mars moons, and ultimately the surface of Mars. The team continued testing hardware including the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV), the Habitat Demonstration Unit (HDU), and the Centaur Robotic assistant vehicle system. As part of the eXploration Habitat (X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge, an attachable inflatable habitat "Loft" designed and built by undergraduate students at

315-542: The crew members. Other robots participating in D-RATS have included a six-legged all-terrain vehicle known as ATHLETE , the centaur -like Robonaut , and Matilda, an autonomous support vehicle capable of collecting geologic samples and aiding with path planning. Space suits tested during Desert RATS include ILC Dover's Mark III and I-Suit . Using speech recognition built into their suits, mock astronauts can command robots, adjust suit parameters for comfort, and inquire into

336-510: The desert, and try out various procedures and techniques for accomplishing the mission. Suited crew members work side by side with robots, and are connected to one another and to the robots by a wireless network. The rugged terrain provides challenges for robotic navigation. In 2005, the Science Crew Operations and Utility Testbed (SCOUT) rover was tested, working alongside two suited crew members. SCOUT could also be manually driven by

357-735: The differences in productivity for crew operations and ground support with continuous communication vs. twice-a-day communication and evaluating and comparing two-rover operations in a lead-and-trail mode vs. a divide-and conquer mode. Initiated in 2004, the goal of PEGS is to develop guidelines for seismic hardware suitable for Lunar and Martian exploration. The system must have minimal volume and mass, be self-powered and recharging, wireless and suitable for planetary exploration and astronaut training. The system must be consistent with NASA's exploration vision in which seismic and other geophysical systems will be key elements of planetary exploration, sub-surface assessments and resource development. The system

378-430: The mission status, or the status or location of any crew member or robot. A head-up display inside the suit can show this information as well. In 2005, participants tested a new system for refilling crew members' liquid-air tanks while in use, thus extending in-suit time. At D-RATS 2004 technology demonstrated included the: Spacesuits, Matilda (autonomous robotic support vehicle), an electric tractor, mobile geology lab,

399-1401: The title D-RATS . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=D-RATS&oldid=1095892427 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Desert Research and Technology Studies Desert RATS began in 1997, reviving Apollo-style lunar exploration training from decades earlier. The field season takes place for around two weeks each year, usually in September, in planned locations surrounding Flagstaff, Arizona . Some tests have also been conducted near Meteor Crater . These activities are designed to exercise prototype planetary surface hardware and representative mission scenario operations in relatively harsh climatic conditions where long distance, multi-day traversing activities are achievable. The participants in Desert RATS vary from year to year. Past participants have included researchers from various NASA centers, including Johnson Space Center , Kennedy Space Center , Goddard Space Flight Center , Ames Research Center , Glenn Research Center , Langley Research Center ,

420-476: The trials, researchers study the effectiveness of new designs for space suits , robots , rovers , surface networking and communications , exploration information systems and computing , habitats , and other equipment, and gain experience in the use of new technologies designed to make planetary exploration safer, easier, and more efficient. Recent tests have involved the use of an interplanetary delay emulator developed at NASA. They stage mock explorations of

441-751: Was tested in Barringer Crater in 2004, 2005 and 2006 plus the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica in 2005. Useful reflection records were recorded in Arizona and the refraction survey recorded in Antarctica was used to determine the thickness of the valley fill. In late August/Early Sept 2011 D-RATS made their 14th trip to the Arizona Desert to continue testing the technology NASA will need to enable multiple destinations for future human exploration including

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