Devon
Island, Nunavut, Canada
Agenda
- Begin extended sun-synchronous navigation experiment
Summary and Progress
- Began extended experiment. This experiment was intended to
stress the
system by increasing the distance, exploring rougher terrain,
and
forcing direct conflicts between sun position and goal location.
The
plan was to perform a complete circumnavigation of Marine Peak,
a
prominent feature at the western extreme of Von Braun Planitia,
in
addition to the previously established circuit of the planitia.
- Experienced communication problems. The experiment started
minutes
after 3:00pmCDT, difficulty occurred first with problems establishing
a
stable communication link with Hyperion and then when the base
camp
generator cut out and disabled communication. The latter was
quickly
resolved while the former was a problem through much of the
night.
- Traversed wet, muddy terrain. In the valley to the south of
Marine
Peak, Hyperion encountered mud, snowmelt saturated soil. It
traversed
these areas without mechanical difficulty at one half nominal
speed.
Occasional false positive obstacles were detected by stereo
perception
due to sunlight reflected on pooled water. This necessitated
a fall
back from autonomous navigation to safeguarded teleoperation
for mud
crossing. The slower speed caused Hyperion to fall behind the
scheduled
sun-synchronous route.
- Experienced more communication problems. In the area east
of Marine
Peak the radio ethernet antenna and communication bridge failed
to
maintain a stable link with Hyperion. (Despite a test the previous
day.) The repeater was moved to several locations before a reliable
link was established.
- Foreshadowing tomorrow's report, more difficulties and delays
were
encountered before Hyperion completed the circuit, on schedule
with
charged batteries.
Upcoming
- Complete extended sun-synchronous navigation experiment
- Pack and flee
Weather
Early: Sunny, no clouds, 12.5C, winds 5-10kph
Late: Sunny, no clouds, 9C, winds 0-5kph.
Quote of the Day
"How can he be so tall and still get lost?"
