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Completed TRL 5 (started at 5, targeting 6)
Key challenges for future human and robotic missions will be situation awareness for extravehicular (EV) crew and dealing with large volumes of video or time-stamped imagery. Exploration Ground Data Systems (xGDS) is a set of planning, monitoring, archiving, and search tools for dealing with data sent to or received from robotic spacecraft or crew systems. xGDS uses web-based applications for portability and to support distributed remote users. xGDS leverages open source web platforms and open standards for maps and other file formats. During FY14, the core capabilities of xGDS will be matured and expanded. In particular, we focus on interacting with systems with constrained communications, including intermittent communications availability or lunar to near Earth asteroid (NEA) time delays of 3 to 50 seconds, applicable to near-term missions such as the lunar Resource Prospector (RP) or the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM).
In FY14, we will develop time-delayed image and video processing and archiving tools, and add support for mobile devices. Video support components will include simultaneous real-time recording and viewing for multiple observers in distributed ops teams, fast access to recorded video for quick go-back reviews of recent events, and integrating playback into the xGDS system.
Mobile device support will enable operating with limited or intermittent communications, including access to maps, position tracking, and structured data collection with a local data store, and synchronizing to the xGDS server when a network is available in a store-and-forward fashion. This will enable use without relying on continuous communications.
Deployment and field testing will be funded by the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) in support of the SMD Mojave Volatiles Prospector (MVP) field test, with the ultimate goal of maturing parts of the xGDS system (the traverse planner, real time plotting, and raster mapping tools) to a level where they will be ready to be infused into the lunar Resource Prospector (RP), which is being developed within NASA through a partnership between STMD/GCD and HEOMD/AES.
The ultimate outcome of this development will be that the desired parts of the xGDS system, such as the traverse planner, real time plotting, and raster mapping tools, will be ready to be infused into the lunar Resource Prospector (RP).
Capability to perform simultaneous real-time recording and viewing for multiple observers in distributed ops teams
Fast access to recorded video for quick go-back reviews of recent events
Mobile device support will enable operating with limited or intermittent communications, including access to maps, position tracking, and structured data collection with a local data store, and synchronizing to the xGDS server when a network is available in a store-and-forward fashion, which will enable use without relying on continuous communications.
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