A Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Instrument for In-Situ Exploration with the DLR Lightweight Rover Unit (LRU)
Source abstract
Abstract
In the framework of the Helmholtz ARCHES project, a multitude of robots, including rovers and drones, were prepared for the autonomous exploration of a test site at the foothills of Mt. Etna, Sicily—a terrain resembling extraterrestrial locations such as the Moon. To expand the suite of tools and sensors available for the exploration and investigation of the test site, we developed a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument for the geochemical analysis of local geological samples. In alignment with the mission scenario, this instrument is housed in a modular payload box that can be attached to the robotic arm of the Lightweight Rover Unit 2 (LRU2), allowing the rover to use the instrument autonomously in the field. A compact Nd:YAG laser is utilized for material ablation, generating a micro-plasma that is subsequently analyzed with a small fiber-coupled spectrometer. A single-board computer controls the LIBS hardware components for data acquisition. In this study, we provide details of the ARCHES LIBS instrument implementation, report on preceding laboratory tests where the LRU2 operated the LIBS module for the first time, and showcase the results obtained during the successful ARCHES space analogue demonstration mission campaign in summer 2022 in Sicily.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma · Analytical chemistry methods development · Planetary Science and Exploration
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, Münchner Str. 20, 82234 Weßling, Germany
Funding
Helmholtz Association
References (42)
Show source-provided references
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