Validation of autonomous rover functionality for planetary environments

This paper discusses autonomous rover functionality as it relates to planetary environmental issues and aspects of associated software validation. The focus is on Mars rover functionality and operational issues related to the Mars surface thermal environment, solar power usage, and terrain interactions with rover mobility systems. A hardware-centric approach to functional validation of Mars rover software is advocated. A brief example is discussed in the context of functional validation activities performed for the NASA Mars exploration rovers mission using a high-fidelity model of the spirit and opportunity rovers