Virtual Sojourner
Student Activity #1: Driving Blind

Team Description
Navigation

Responsibility: to create precise instructions to command the rover.

Specialty: developing a usable command language.

Limitations: not being able to see the rover move during the mission.

Procedure:

• Learn the responsibilities of the other teams.
  
• Consult with the Engineering team to schedule use of the rover. Calibrate rover movements to determine: how far forward the rover will move per second, how many degrees per second the rover will turn, and how variations in terrain affect its movement.
  
• Navigate the rover in a lab situation to test reliability. Coordinate with the Mapping team and Camera team for terrain and camera information.
  
• Assist the Mapping team in making a full-scale model of the "landing site."
  
• Work with the Lander team to make sure your commands makes sense. Practice writing command sequences and transmitting them to the Lander team. Note: you may not tell them the objective of the mission (which rock to visit).
  
• Submit a (short) status report to the Publications team during the project.
  
• Work with the Mapping team write a command sequence for the mission that your team believes will command the rover to the mission objective (which rock to visit).
  
• Work with the Mapping team as needed during the mission.
  
• Report your observations to the Publications team at the conclusion of the mission. Outline the procedure you used to determine reliable navigation, how well your techniques were implemented, whether you think the mission was successful, how you contributed to the mission, and how your work related to the science experiment. Tell what you thought the experiment was, whether it was deployed properly, if you think the data is reliable, and if you think the Science team's conclusion is justified.
  
• Prepare a poster of your report to discuss and present to your classmates.

Hints:

• Keep it simple--make a list of things you need to know before you begin working with the rover.
  
• Work for precision.
  
• Test navigation in a "natural" setting (such as a the sample rock field).