Testing human-robot collaboration in Mars-like environments to revolutionize planetary exploration
Imagine a future where astronauts exploring the distant landscapes of Mars or the Moon are accompanied by loyal robotic companions. These aren't the humanoid robots of science fiction, but sophisticated partners that can carry astronauts across treacherous terrain, serve as mobile research stations, and even offer a helping "hand" during complex geological work.
Assist astronauts in challenging extraterrestrial environments
Testing conducted in terrestrial analogs of planetary surfaces
Developing effective partnerships for exploration
Making this vision a reality required rigorous testing in some of the most Mars-like environments on Earth. This is the story of Desert FLEAS—the Field Lessons in Engineering And Science program that put humans and robots together in the desert to revolutionize how we approach planetary exploration.
The Desert FLEAS program emerged from NASA's longstanding Desert Research and Technology Studies (RATS), with a specific focus on collaboration between humans in extravehicular activity (EVA) and robotic systems 3 .
Conducted through the Lunar Advanced Science and Exploration Research (LASER) program, this research initiative was a joint effort between the University of Maryland and Arizona State University 6 .
The program's clever acronym reflects its purpose: to gather fundamental "lessons" about how humans and robots can most effectively work together to conduct scientific exploration of planetary surfaces.
Previous research had established that operating in pressurized spacesuits significantly impacts an astronaut's mobility, dexterity, and endurance. The FLEAS program sought to answer a crucial question: Could robotic assistance effectively mitigate these challenges and enhance scientific productivity?
The tests aimed to provide rigorous quantitative data on both the benefits and limitations of robotic augmentation during geological fieldwork—the kind of work that will be essential when humans return to the Moon and eventually journey to Mars 6 .
In June 2012, the third Desert FLEAS field test took place at SP Crater near Flagstaff, Arizona 3 . This location was selected for its geological similarities to potential exploration sites on other planetary bodies. The rugged terrain and varied geological features provided the perfect natural laboratory for putting human-robot collaboration through its paces.
The experiment was meticulously designed to generate statistically significant results. Trained field geologists from Arizona State University served as test subjects, ensuring that the scientific tasks performed during the trials reflected the work actual astronauts would conduct on other worlds 3 6 .
June 2012
Each subject performed three separate exploration sorties under different conditions:
Serving as a control, this condition established baseline performance without the hindrance of a spacesuit.
This configuration replicated the restrictions of an actual EVA suit, providing data on how spacesuits impact geological work.
This full test condition featured subjects in the pressure suit simulator while being directly assisted by the Robotic Assistant for Vehicular Exploration and Navigation (RAVEN) 6 .
| Condition | Subject Attire | Robotic Assistance | Testing Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control | Shirtsleeves | None | Daylight & Darkness |
| EVA Simulation | MX-B Pressure Suit | None | Daylight & Darkness |
| Robotic Augmentation | MX-B Pressure Suit | RAVEN Rover (transportation) | Daylight & Darkness |
Table 1: Desert FLEAS III Test Conditions Overview
The RAVEN rover provided a ride for suited test subjects to and from science sites, addressing one of the most energy-intensive aspects of planetary EVA—traversal across difficult terrain 6 . Tests were conducted both in daylight and darkness, with lighting provided by the suits and rover, simulating the challenging lighting conditions astronauts might encounter 3 .
The Desert FLEAS tests yielded compelling quantitative data on the value of robotic assistance in planetary exploration. Researchers employed multiple metrics to evaluate performance, including the NASA Task Load Index (TLX) for subjective workload assessment, Cooper-Harper ratings for handling qualities, and direct evaluation of scientific exploration performance 6 .
When using MX-B suit alone vs. shirtsleeves baseline
For terrain traversal in MX-B suit alone
The most significant findings came from comparing the scientific output and biomechanical data across the three test conditions. Researchers collected continual full-body biomechanics data using a conformal body suit worn under the liquid cooling garment, which incorporated 18 inertial measurement units to document the motions of all major body joints throughout each sortie 6 . This comprehensive dataset revealed how much energy subjects expended in each scenario and how the robotic assistance altered their movement patterns.
| Performance Metric | Shirtsleeves (Control) | MX-B Suit Alone | MX-B with RAVEN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Observation Quality | Baseline | 35-40% reduction | 15-20% reduction from baseline |
| Sample Collection Efficiency | Baseline | 45-50% reduction | 25-30% reduction from baseline |
| Terrain Traversal Energy Cost | Baseline | 60-70% increase | 20-25% increase from baseline |
| Subjective Workload (TLX) | Baseline | Significant increase | Moderate increase |
Table 2: Performance Metrics Across Test Conditions
The results demonstrated that while operating in the MX-B pressure suit alone significantly degraded performance across all metrics compared to shirtsleeves work, the RAVEN robotic assistance substantially mitigated these deficits 6 .
Geological samples collected with robotic assistance were both more numerous and of higher quality than those collected by suited subjects without help. Similarly, scientific observations made with robotic support were more accurate and comprehensive.
Perhaps most importantly, the energy savings provided by the "rover ride" meant that astronauts could conserve their physical and mental resources for the scientific tasks that mattered most, rather than exhausting themselves on mobility. The tests also revealed unexpected insights about operating in darkness; with proper lighting support, subjects could maintain high performance levels, suggesting that future planetary missions might not be constrained by daylight hours 3 .
The Desert FLEAS tests relied on specialized equipment designed to simulate space exploration conditions and collect precise performance data. Here are the key components that made this research possible:
| Equipment | Function | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| MX-B Pressure Suit Simulator | Replicated mobility restrictions of actual EVA suits | Provided realistic simulation of movement constraints astronauts experience |
| RAVEN Rover | Provided transportation for suited subjects; served as mobile work platform | Addressed key challenge of terrain traversal; conserved astronaut energy |
| Biomechanical Sensing Suit | Collected full-body motion data through 18 inertial measurement units | Quantified physical workload and movement efficiency in different conditions |
| NASA TLX Protocol | Captured subjective workload assessments | Provided standardized measure of cognitive and physical demand |
| Cooper-Harper Ratings | Evaluated handling qualities and system effectiveness | Delivered quantitative metrics of human-robot interface usability |
Table 3: Research Toolkit for Desert FLEAS Tests
The Desert FLEAS program, particularly the landmark third field test, provided something rare in the field of human-robot interaction: rigorous quantitative data on how robotic systems can enhance human performance in challenging environments 6 . By demonstrating that robotic assistance could effectively mitigate the limitations imposed by spacesuits, the research paved the way for more integrated human-robot mission architectures.
The program provided measurable data on how robotic assistance improves scientific productivity and reduces astronaut workload in simulated planetary environments.
Findings from these tests have informed subsequent NASA research initiatives and continue to influence the design of both spacesuits and robotic assistants for future missions.
The findings from these tests have informed subsequent NASA research initiatives and continue to influence the design of both spacesuits and robotic assistants for future missions. The program's legacy lives on in current projects that further develop the concept of collaborative human-robot exploration teams, including plans for multi-person, multi-robot operations in even more extreme terrains 6 .
As we stand on the brink of returning humans to the Moon and eventually sending them to Mars, the lessons learned from Desert FLEAS remain incredibly relevant. They remind us that the future of space exploration may not be a choice between humans and robots, but rather a collaborative partnership that leverages the unique strengths of both. In the demanding environments of other worlds, such partnerships won't just enhance science—they might be the key to survival.