{"id":96235,"date":"2021-02-05T22:11:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-06T02:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-468110"},"modified":"2023-08-09T11:45:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T15:45:43","slug":"cooperative-autonomous-distributed-robotic-explorers-cadre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/langley\/cooperative-autonomous-distributed-robotic-explorers-cadre\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"781\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"CADRE\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg?resize=900,675 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2010\" height=\"1682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png?w=2010\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"CADRE predecessor, the Autonomous Pop-Up Flat Folding Explorer Robots , or A-PUFFERs, explore the Mars Yard at NASA's Jet Propul\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png 2010w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png?resize=300,251 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png?resize=768,643 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png?resize=1024,857 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png?resize=1536,1285 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png?resize=400,335 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png?resize=600,502 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png?resize=900,753 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png?resize=1200,1004 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a-puffer_0.png?resize=2000,1674 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2010px) 100vw, 2010px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE) project is developing a network of shoe-box-sized mobile robots that could enable future autonomous robotic exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The CADRE robots are the latest version of NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/game_changing_development\/projects\/A-PUFFER\" rel=\"noopener\">A-PUFFER<\/a> technology. Each robot contains an onboard computer with a wireless radio for communication and a stereo camera \u2013 which has multiple lenses and image sensors \u2013 for sensing the environment in front of it and capturing 3D imagery. NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California is developing the robotic scouts, designing them to explore as a group and collect data in hard-to-reach places such as craters and caves on the Moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCADRE robots could complement NASA\u2019s larger planetary robots and rovers,\u201d said Sonny Mitchell, a program element manager for NASA\u2019s Game Changing Development Program, which funds the project.  \u201cMultiple small, autonomous robots could cover more ground, potentially helping us map unexplored regions on the Moon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How CADRE Robots Work<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During launch and the trip through space, the robots would be stored in a compact position in a larger lander. Once the lander arrives at its destination, the CADRE scouts would eject onto the surface. The explorers are designed to be agile and smart enough to explore extreme terrain on the Moon independently, without being controlled by astronauts or engineers on Earth.<br>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Phoning home is a viable option for lunar missions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/ames\/vipers-many-brains-are-better-than-one\" rel=\"noopener\">like VIPER<\/a>, since communication signals can reach Earth within seconds. Still, waiting for ground control to review the transmissions, decide on next steps, and send back updates or commands eats up precious time. And for destinations even farther from Earth, such as Mars and Jupiter\u2019s moon Europa, communications can take much longer, making ground-based transmissions tedious. Having robots work together and explore autonomously would greatly increase the science return of a mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CADRE team is investigating multiple methods for communication between the robots and the base station (attached to the lunar lander), including a WiFi-based system. In this scenario, the robots would communicate with one another, and together they would share information and transmit that information back to a base station on the lander. The base station then redistributes all the collective data back out to the rovers.  Frost calls this \u2018high brain\u2019 which entails the base station computer taking all the robots\u2019 collective information, such as maps, putting it together and sending it out to the robots with more detailed information and compiled maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere are a number of areas where this can be extremely impactful,\u201d Frost said. \u201cBy increasing autonomy of multi-agent systems, we will reduce the number of times when the rovers have to \u2018phone home\u2019 to get ground control instructions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CADRE team is focused on using this autonomy technology for small robots, but the platform could be expanded to include larger robots, base stations and other surface systems, according to project manager, Matthew Frost, at JPL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A New Smart World of Lunar Exploration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One particular area CADRE robots could come in handy is the exploration near the Moon\u2019s lava tubes. In these areas, the top surface layer solidifies but beneath, lava still flows, which creates caves. With multi-agents (or multiple robots working together), sending one small robot into a lava tube is possible, despite the uncertainty of it being able to return to the surface. As long as there is good signal range between the multi-agents, robots and rovers, then data can be transmitted back to the ones on the lunar surface to communicate some never-before-seen data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sharing knowledge between the multiple robots can be as simple as sharing position and map knowledge to improve their path planning and location of science targets. However, it can also open a new world of science exploration by sharing science sensor data as well. For example, by using a multi-agent system with ground-penetrating radar, the data from different rovers can be used to adjust the baseline between them allowing the system to create subterranean maps at different depths. CADRE multi-agents equipped with telescopes could be arranged to make a synthetic aperture, and could therefore act as a telescope. Similarly, multiple rovers armed with sensors could spread out to provide a better understanding of the lunar seismic conditions below the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s next for CADRE?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The team will continue to advance this autonomous robotic technology through ground testing and demonstrations using lunar terrain simulant. This will include testing the ability of multiple small robots to explore an area together, while each performing various tasks, such as mapping, subsurface imaging, and recording ground motions. CADRE is being considered for a technology demonstration on the Moon as a payload on a commercial lunar lander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, the software could be used by NASA and commercial companies to advance autonomy capabilities for all kinds of robotic exploration systems. The CADRE team aims to make the technology versatile enough that it could host and operate many different types of science instruments, even those built outside of NASA. Additionally, CADRE will be designed to allow other commercial robots to work in unison with CADRE robots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frost hopes CADRE systems will become a standard, commercial off-the-shelf option that enables a new wealth in space exploration. \u201cThe overall goal is to enable a new way of exploring space for years to come,\u201d Frost said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA\u2019s Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE) project is developing a network of shoe-box-sized mobile robots that could enable future autonomous robotic exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The CADRE robots are the latest version of NASA\u2019s A-PUFFER technology. Each robot contains an onboard computer with a wireless radio for communication and a stereo camera [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":217,"featured_media":106481,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"279","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[3334,2863],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[11404,10415],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE)","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/langley\/cooperative-autonomous-distributed-robotic-explorers-cadre\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/langley\/cooperative-autonomous-distributed-robotic-explorers-cadre\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Directorates","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Hillary Smith"}],"creator":["Hillary Smith"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Centers & Facilities","Langley Research Center","Game Changing Development Program"],"dateCreated":"2021-02-06T02:11:00Z","datePublished":"2021-02-06T02:11:00Z","dateModified":"2023-08-09T15:45:43Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/langley\/cooperative-autonomous-distributed-robotic-explorers-cadre\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2021-02-06T02:11:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Directorates\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities,Langley Research Center,Game Changing Development Program\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Hillary Smith\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":5,"time_ago":"3 years","featured_image":{"id":106481,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cadre_side_image.jpg","title":"cadre_side_image","alt":"CADRE","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96235"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/217"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96235"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":319889,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96235\/revisions\/319889"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/106481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96235"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=96235"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=96235"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=96235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}