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Autonomous Rover Detection and Response Applied to the Search for Life Via Chlorophyll Fluorescence in the Atacama Desert
T. Smith, D.R. Thompson, S. Weinstein, and D. Wettergreen
Proc. of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March, 2006.

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This paper describes autonomous detection and response capabilities used to enhance a robotic search for life in the Atacama Desert of Chile, part of the NASA ASTEP Limits of Life in the Atacama campaign. Autonomous chlorophyll detection and followup dye application was field tested in the Atacama. Samples autonomously chosen for dye followup were significantly more likely to contain photosynthetic organisms than samples chosen at random. The new autonomy capabilities were successfully integrated into the operations scheme and saw continuing use by the remote team operating the rover.

Associated center: FRC
Associated project: Science Autonomy

T. Smith, D.R. Thompson, S. Weinstein, and D. Wettergreen, "Autonomous Rover Detection and Response Applied to the Search for Life Via Chlorophyll Fluorescence in the Atacama Desert," Proc. of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March, 2006.

@inproceedings{Smith_2006_5309,
   author = "Trey Smith and David R Thompson and S. Weinstein and David Wettergreen",
   title = "Autonomous Rover Detection and Response Applied to the Search for Life Via Chlorophyll Fluorescence in the Atacama Desert",
   booktitle = "Proc. of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference",
   month = "March",
   year = "2006"
}