A Bayesian Framework for Landing Site Selection during Autonomous Spacecraft Descent

– The success of a landed space exploration mission depends largely on the final landing site. Factors influencing site selection include safety, fuel-consumption, and scientific return. This paper addresses the problem of selecting the best available landing site based on these factors in real-time during autonomous spacecraft descent onto a planetary surface. The problem is modeled probabilistically using Bayesian Networks (BNs). BNs provide a means of representing the causal relationships between variables that impact the quality of a landing site. The final landing site is determined via probabilistic reasoning based on terrain safety derived from on-board sensors, available fuel based on spacecraft descent dynamics, and regions of interest defined by mission scientists.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: IROS
• Authors: Navid Serrano
• Keywords: Final Landing Site, IROS 2006, Landing Site, Robotics, Spacecraft Descent