What if robots could guide each other during an expedition on the Moon? A new system called Swarm Navigation Network made by a group of German (DLR) scientists is making this a reality by simplifying the communication by networking up to 50 robots and sensors.
Each team member, whether a robot or sensor, shares information with others to enhance navigation and guidance, hence making communication easier and helping each other in unfamiliar environments where GPS is unavailable. They work independently on their own through sharing information among themselves. Swarm Network uses radio signals to communicate with each other, thus calculating the distance between each other. With all this information, the swam navigation system is able to create a map of that area, allowing the proper navigation and communication.
Scientists have been developing these technologies for decades, but recently got a chance to test it out in the LUNA hall at Cologne, Germany. They experimented with different scenarios and different modes of distributing the sensors, like airdropping into craters that are too deep to reach and heavily spreading the robots so a wide area is covered under the communication map and allowing increased data. They were able to create a wide network with the help of over 50 sensors and robots and even worked under challenging conditions that might be encountered at the moon's surface.
This is exciting news for the technology enthusiasts, as it opens new opportunities towards safe and efficient exploration in the most challenging terrains and regions where communication through satellite is not an option.
The team will analyze the data to further improve the system, and even more, they hope to support future space endeavors and solve the navigation problems even on earth. This could be the next step towards autonomous, fully independent navigation systems for the space missions where robots and sensors work as a team to survive these adverse environmental conditions.
