NASA Robotics for Research and Exploration

Quiz for October 15th, 2002
Telepresence on the Mars Pathfinder Mission

1. Which is NOT one of the primary challnges in controlling remote robots on other planets?

A. Time Delay
B. Communication Bandwidth
C. Conversiuon of units
D. Understanding the Environment

2. Why is 'time delay' one of the primary challenges in controlling remote robots on other planets?

A. Actions commanded remotely do not occur and cannot be observed for some time equivalent to the total round-trip time delay
B. Causes a instability in the control loop between lovcal and remote sites
C. Operators must adopt a move and wait strategy for teleoperation
D. All of the above

3. What is the approximate one-way time delay in sending a communication signal from Earth to Mars?

A. 2 minute
B. 20 minute
C. 2 hours
D. 2 days

4. What technique was used to automate the generation of 3D models of the Martian surface for the Pathfinder Mission in 1997?

A. Robotic tape measure
B. Laser scanners
C. Stereo Imaging System
D. Trinocular Imaging System

5. What was the name of the robotic vehicle that explored the surface of Mars in 1997?

A. Sojourner Rover
B. Pathfinder Rover
C. FIDO Rover
D. Rocky Rover

Answers:

1. c
2. d
3. b
4. c
5. b