An Interdisciplinary Approach to Human-Robot Cooperation in Near-Term Exploration Scenarios

Jeffrey Osborne, Christopher Brunskill, Rohan Jaguste, Christopher Daniel Johnson, Helia Sharif, Ian Silversides, Bertrand Trey, Mihaela Vlasea
2012 Social Science Research Network  
Human and robotic capabilities differ, with each offering their own benefits and drawbacks. Robots are reliable and accurate, and can operate in hostile environments: all attributes well-suited for space exploration. However, when faced with new scenarios and unexpected events, robots pale in comparison with the intuition and creativity of humans. Future space exploration will have to intelligently balance the flexibility and ingenuity of humans with robust and sophisticated robotic systems.
more » ... ed on various space agency goals and the 2011 ISECG (International Space Exploration and Coordination Group) Roadmap, this paper selects an exploration objective for the timeframe between 2015 and 2035, and drafts different scenarios to accomplish this objective. Each scenario uses different degrees of humanrobot interaction. The extended Cooperation of Humans and Robots Model (CHARM) is then applied to select an optimal mix of human and robotics in order to accomplish the stated objective. CHARM uses an interdisciplinary approach, including technical, scientific, political, social, financial, and legal perspectives. The results of CHARM are then further analyzed using these interdisciplinary aspects, with considerations given to the future studies outlook on future human-robot cooperation. The CHARM team believes that this decision-making model can be used to select missions efficiently and rationally, and thereby bring down both mission costs and risks, make space exploration more feasible, and make long-term space exploration sustainable. 1 Exploration Objectives: The ISECG framework of common goals and shared objectives allows for space agencies to develop long-range exploration mission scenarios and reference missions at destinations of interest. 1 The ISECG Roadmay identifies ways of achieving the ultimate goal of human presense on Mars, using Asteroid Next and Moon Next approaches. 2 The Moon Next approach is pushed by the need to develop the capabilities to live self-sufficiently on a planetary surface. This will entail developing capabili-
doi:10.2139/ssrn.2120256 fatcat:un3psika5bdyvga7zitzx36x3u