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Gulick, V. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Gulick, V. C..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2004

Developing an Automated Science Analysis System for Mars Surface Exploration for MSL and Beyond

We are developing an automated science analysis system that could be utilized by robotic or human explorers on Mars (or even in remote locations on Earth) to improve the quality and quantity of science data returned. Three components of this system (our rock, layer, and horizon detectors) [1] have been incorporated into the JPL CLARITY system for possible use by MSL and future Mars robotic missions. Two other components include a multi-spectral image compression (SPEC) algorithm for pancam-type images with multiple filters and image fusion algorithms that identify the in focus regions of individual images in an image focal series [2]. Recently, we have been working to combine image and spectral data, and other knowledge to identify both rocks and minerals. Here we present our progress on developing an igneous rock detection system.

Gulick, V. C.↗
NASA NTRS2004

SILVER: Surface Imaging for Lunar Volatiles, Resources, and Exploration

The Surface Imaging for Lunar Volatiles, Exploration, and Resources (SILVER) instrument is a proposed imaging investigation for the 2008 Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission. SILVER and its experienced Measurement Team will prepare for and support future lunar human exploration activities, especially landing site identification and certification on the basis of potential resources. SILVER combines a high-resolution pushbroom visible imaging channel (SILVER-HR) and a wide-field-of-view (45 deg) framing imaging channel (SILVER-WF). SILVER-HR will obtain a single-detector 6 km imaging swath of 12,228 pixels at 0.5 m/pixel to image greater than 100 sq km target areas from 50 km altitude, imaging greater than 15% the lunar surface during a 1 year nominal mission. SILVER-HR has excellent stray-light rejection and its imaging detector has selectable time delay integration (TDI) with up to 128 stages for extreme low-light sensitivity, permitting direct imaging of permanently shadowed polar regions in scattered sunlight or earthshine. SILVER-WF will obtain geodetic framing images in a 2048 x 2048 format at 20m/pixel, with 60% along-track overlap stereo for imaging context and for derivation of a global digital elevation model of meter-scale lunar topography.

Pappalardo, R. T.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Automated Rock Identification for Future Mars Exploration Missions

A key task for human or robotic explorers on the surface of Mars is choosing which particular rock or mineral samples should be selected for more intensive study. The usual challenges of such a task are compounded by the lack of sensory input available to a suited astronaut or the limited downlink bandwidth available to a rover. Additional challenges facing a human mission include limited surface time and the similarities in appearance of important minerals (e.g. carbonates, silicates, salts). Yet the choice of which sample to collect is critical. To address this challenge we are developing science analysis algorithms to interface with a Geologist's Field Assistant (GFA) device that will allow robotic or human remote explorers to better sense and explore their surroundings during limited surface excursions. We aim for our algorithms to interpret spectral and imaging data obtained by various sensors. The algorithms, for example, will identify key minerals, rocks, and sediments from mid-IR, Raman, and visible/near-IR spectra as well as from high resolution and microscopic images to help interpret data and to provide high-level advice to the remote explorer. A top-level system will consider multiple inputs from raw sensor data output by imagers and spectrometers (visible/near-IR, mid-IR, and Raman) as well as human opinion to identify rock and mineral samples.

Gulick, V. C.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Mars Data Visualization and E/PO with Marsoweb

Marsoweb is a collaborative web environment that has been developed for the Mars research community to better visualize and analyze Mars orbiter data. Its goal is to enable online data discovery by providing an intuitive, interactive interface to data from the Mars Global Surveyor and other orbiters. Recently Marsoweb has served a prominent role as a resource center for the site selection process for the Mars Explorer Rover 2003 missions. In addition to hosting a repository of landing site memoranda and workshop talks, it includes a Java-based interface to a variety of datamaps and images. This interface enables the display and numerical querying of data, and allows data profiles to be rendered from user-drawn cross-sections. High-resolution Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) images (currently, over 100,000) can be graphically perused; browser-based image processing tools can be used on MOC images of potential landing sites. An automated VRML atlas allows users to construct 'flyovers' of their own regions-of-interest in 3D. These capabilities enable Marsoweb to be used for general global data studies, in addition to those specific to landing site selection. As of September 2002, over 70,000 distinct users from NASA, USGS, academia, and the general public have accessed Marsoweb.

Gulick, V. C.↗
NASA NTRS2002

HiRISE: The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment for Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

HiRISE, an experiment on the 2005 MRO mission, will provide an unprecedented combination of ground sampling dimension (25-50 cm/pixel), signal-to-noise ratio (greater than 100:1 at all latitudes), swath width (5-10 km), partial 3-color coverage, greater than 2% coverage of Mars at 1 m/pixel or better, and stereo imaging. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

McEwen, A. S.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Heat Flow, Thermal Conductivity, and the Plausibility of the White Mars Hypothesis

Due to the low thermal conductivity of CO2 ice and clathrate vs. water ice, we find that liquid water reservoirs would not be confined to the deep subsurface as predicted by the controversial White Mars model, even assuming low global heat flow. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Urquhart, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Geologist's Field Assistant: Developing Image and Spectral Analyses Algorithms for Remote Science Exploration

We are developing science analyses algorithms to interface with a Geologist's Field Assistant device to allow robotic or human remote explorers to better sense their surroundings during limited surface excursions. Our algorithms will interpret spectral and imaging data obtained by various sensors. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Gulick, V. C.↗
NASA NTRS2001

A Virtual Web Environment for Mars Landing Site Studies

A collection of web tools is available for both the landing site and broader Mars science communities to better utilize, visualize, and analyze Mars Global Surveyor data. These tools have grown out of a two year effort between the Center for Mars Exploration (CMEX), and the NAS data visualization group at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), to promote interactions among the planetary community and to coordinate landing site activities. The web site will continue to evolve over the next several years as new tools and features are added to support the ongoing Mars missions.

Gulick, V. C.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Can Distributed Volunteers Accomplish Massive Data Analysis Tasks?

We argue that many image analysis tasks can be performed by distributed amateurs. Our pilot study, with crater surveying and classification, has produced encouraging results in terms of both quantity (100,000 crater entries in 2 months) and quality. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Kanefsky, B.↗
NASA NTRS1999

A Virtual Collaborative Environment for Mars Surveyor Landing Site Studies

Over the past year and a half, the Center for Mars Exploration (CMEX) at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) has been working with the Mars Surveyor Project Office at JPL to promote interactions among the planetary community and to coordinate landing site activities for the Mars Surveyor Project Office. To date, CMEX has been responsible for organizing the first two Mars Surveyor Landing Site workshops, web-archiving resulting information from these workshops, aiding in science evaluations of candidate landing sites, and serving as a liaison between the community and the Project. Most recently, CMEX has also been working with information technologists at Ames to develop a state-of-the-art collaborative web site environment to foster interaction of interested members of the planetary community with the Mars Surveyor Program and the Project Office. The web site will continue to evolve over the next several years as new tools and features are added to support the ongoing Mars Surveyor missions.

Gulick, V. C.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Mars Surveyor Project Landing Site Activities

The Mars Surveyor Program -- now a cooperative program led by NASA and CNES along with other international partners -- is underway. It has the primary science objective of furthering our understanding of the biological potential and possible biological history of Mars and has the complementary objective of improving our understanding of martian climate evolution and planetary history. The missions will develop technology and acquire data necessary for eventual human exploration. Launches of orbiters, landers and rovers will take place in 2001 and in 2003; in 2005 a complete system will be launched capable of returning samples to Earth by 2008. A key aspect of the program is the selection of landing sites. This abstract 1) reports on the status of the landing site selection process that begins with the 2001 lander mission and 2) outlines the opportunities for the Mars community to provide input into the landing site selection process.

Gulick, V. C.↗