Biomimetic optic flow sensing applied to a lunar landing scenario

Autonomous landing on unknown extraterrestrial bodies requires fast, noise-resistant motion processing to elicit appropriate steering commands. Flying insects excellently master visual motion sensing techniques to cope with highly parallel data at a low energy cost, using dedicated motion processing circuits. Results obtained in neurophysiological, behavioural, and biorobotic studies on insect flight control were used to safely land a spacecraft on the Moon in a simulated environment. ESA's Advanced Concepts Team has identified autonomous lunar landing as a relevant situation for testing the potential applications of innovative bio-inspired visual guidance systems to space missions. Biomimetic optic flow-based strategies for controlling automatic landing were tested in a very realistic simulated Moon environment. Visual information was provided using the PANGU software program and used to regulate the optic flow generated during the landing of a two degrees of freedom spacecraft. ...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: ICRA
• Authors: Florent Valette, Franck Ruffier, Stéphane Viollet, Tobias Seidl
• Keywords: Autonomous Lunar Landing, ICRA 2010, Master Visual Motion, Optic Flow, Robotics