Grants and Contributions:

Agreement Number:

Agreement Value:

$200,000.00

Agreement Date:

Jan 16, 2018 -

Description:

In 2003, NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, began exploring the surface of the red planet. While both rovers performed for longer than expected, Spirit's mission ended in 2009 when the rover became stuck in a soft patch of soil. Rovers can autonomously detect and avoid rocks and other obstacles with ease, but detecting soft soil hazards remains a challenge for rover operators. While Opportunity is still operating, it has lost mission time while stuck in soft soil patches. The Autonomous Soil Assessment System 2.0 (ASAS), building upon previous work by Mission Control Space Services, will improve rovers' ability to navigate through unknown environments by detecting a much broader variety of terrains and hazard types through the use of artificial intelligence, and specifically deep learning techniques. ASAS can be employed to improve mission safety and efficiency in two ways: by running on ground station computers to help rover operators plan safe routes, or by operating in real time as a software payload onboard the rover to increase its autonomy by allowing it to handle hazard detection automatically.

Organization:

Canadian Space Agency

Expected Results:

-Increased knowledge from research projects in priority space S&T areas (number of new and ongoing space science and technology initiatives and projects).
-Number of completed space science and technology initiatives (Announcement of Opportunity) and proj

Location:

Ottawa, Ontario, CA

Reference Number:

003-2017-2018-Q4-03750

Agreement Type:

Contribution

Report Type:

Grants and Contributions

Additional Information:

The amount allocated covers more than one fiscal year.

Recipient's Legal Name:

Mission Control Space Services Inc.

Program:

Class Grant and Contribution Program to Support Research, Awareness and Learning in Space Science and Technology

Program Purpose:

This program supports knowledge development and innovation in the CSA's priority areas while increasing the awareness and participation of Canadians in space-related disciplines and activities.
The Research Component aims to support the development of science and technology; foster the continual development of a critical mass of researchers and highly qualified people in Canada; and support information gathering and space-related studies and research pertaining to Canadian Space Agency priorities.