MSL's Widgets: Adding Rebustness to Martian Sample Acquisition, Handling, and Processing

Abstract

Mars Science Laboratory's (MSL) Sample Acquisition Sample Processing and Handling (SA-SPaH) system is one of the most ambitious terrain interaction and manipulation systems ever built and successfully used outside of planet earth. Mars has a ruthless environment that has surprised many who have tried to explore there. The robustness widget program was implemented by the MSL project to help ensure the SA-SPaH system would be robust enough to the surprises of this ruthless Martian environment. The robustness widget program was an effort of extreme schedule pressure and responsibility, but was accomplished with resounding success. This paper will focus on a behind the scenes look at MSL's robustness widgets: the particle fun zone, the wind guards, and the portioner pokers.