From the Surface of Mars to the Ocean of Enceladus - EELS Robot and Risk-Aware Adaptive Autonomy

Explore the cutting-edge developments in robotic exploration of extreme planetary environments in this 53-minute Stanford seminar. Delve into NASA JPL scientist Hiro Ono's presentation on the EELS (Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor) robot, a revolutionary snake-like machine designed to investigate uncharted worlds beyond Mars. Learn about the shift from traditional Mars exploration methods to a new paradigm of one-shot exploration using versatile hardware and risk-aware adaptive autonomy. Discover how EELS aims to search for extant alien life in Saturn's Enceladus geysers and its subsurface ocean. Gain insights into the successful testing of EELS prototypes in various environments, including natural vertical holes on Athabasca Glacier. Examine topics such as Mars rover autonomy, risk-aware planning algorithms, and the broader implications for autonomous robotic exploration of unknown planetary environments.