A Robotic Deep Driller for Mars Exploration

Abstract This paper describes a mobile Robotic Sampling System designed to perform deep (up to 2 meters) soil sampling on the surface of Mars. Due to the complexity of the task, the very limited mass and volume used and the need of complete automation of all its operations, the system demands for a very ambitious mechatronic design. The description carried out in the paper addresses the design of the system as well as it shows some details of a first prototype under manufacturing. This work is being performed under European Space Agency funding by Space Systems Finland Ltd (SSF, Finland) as prime contractor, together with Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT, Finland) and Helsinki University of Technology (HUT, Finland).