ⓘ NASA
Mars Global Localization pinpoints Perseverances location
NASA’s Perseverance team recorded the first successful use of a new technology that helps the rover figure out its exact location by itself. Perseverance did this by taking images of its location and matching them with data from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).
NASA’s Perseverance rover has been exploring Mars since 2021. While moving around the red planet, the rover takes pictures of its surroundings every few feet while accounting for wheel slippage. However, small errors build up over time. On long drives, the rover can be off by more than 100 feet (up to 35 meters). When this happens, the rover stops, thinking it might be near dangerous terrain. It then waits for instructions from Earth — a process that can take a day or more. The new technology called Mars Global Localization bypasses this time-consuming process.
On February 2, navigation cameras (navcam) on Perseverance took a 360-degree view of the surrounding terrain in a location dubbed “Mala Mala.” This region is a featureless location on the rim of Jezero Crater. The images were stitched into an overhead circular image called an orthomosaic. An onboard algorithm then matched the image to orbital images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). This helped the rover pinpoint its location with an accuracy of 10 inches. And the entire process took only about two minutes.
The algorithm runs on a processor that Perseverance previously used to communicate with the now-retired Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. It allows Perseverance to determine its own location and continue on its pre-planned route without having to stop and wait for instructions.
Chibuike Okpara – Tech Writer – 407 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024
I have always been fascinated by technology and digital devices my entire life and even got addicted to it. I have always marveled at the intricacy of even the simplest digital devices and systems around us. I have been writing and publishing articles online for about 6 years now, just about a year ago, I found myself lost in the marvel of smartphones and laptops we have in our hands every day. I developed a passion for learning about new devices and technologies that come with them and at some point, I asked myself, “Why not get into writing tech articles?” It is useless to say I followed up the idea — it is evident. I am an open-minded individual who derives an infinite amount of joy from researching and discovering new information, I believe there is so much to learn and such a short life to live, so I put my time to good use — learning new things. I am a ‘bookworm’ of the internet and digital devices. When I am not writing, you will find me on my devices still, I do explore and admire the beauty of nature and creatures. I am a fast learner and quickly adapt to changes, always looking forward to new adventures.