About the Project

Our mission "is to advance learning and knowledge by linking theory and practice"

The purpose of this project is to integrate the Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) deep space exploration rover technology research into the undergraduate curriculum of the engineering, technology and computer science departments at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona). Cal Poly Pomona students under supervision of faculty will conduct research and prototype a "Smart Rover" capable of autonomous navigation for the purpose of data acquisition, data processing and transference of the collected information to the home base.

Project has four areas of investigation:

1. Embedded systems fore autonomous navigation, data acquisition and processing
2. Software engineering and testing to ensure software integrity
3. Digital signal processing of image information collected by rover, and
4. Wireless data communication for transfer of information from the rover to its home base for further investigation.

This project addresses issues related to deep space exploration by remote robotics rover.

The purpose of this project is to explore:

1. Semi-autonomous navigation systems for remote robots
2. Processing of 2-dimensional images and data transmission,
3. and modified operations in a degraded communication environment (variable bandwidth and variable delay)

To address these issues will require research in the areas of wireless RF communications, embedded systems including microcontrollers and DSP processing and software engineering. The goal of the project is to research these issues within the context of our current laboratory and team project structures and develop a working prototype model.