https://cdn.specpick.com/images/photonics/jenopnas.png712370
The Jenoptik Light & Optics team based in Jupiter, Florida, has been developing three types of mission critical lenses for use with NASA’s Mars Rover engineering cameras. The three lens classes include, Navigation Lenses, Hazard Avoidance Lenses, and Cache Lenses.
The lenses will be equipped in the rover’s Enhanced Engineering Cameras for Driving which will help human operators on Earth drive the rover more precisely, and better target the movements of the arm, drill and other tools that get close to their targets. A much wider field-of-view gives the cameras a much better view of the rover itself. This is important for checking on the health of various rover parts and measuring changes in the amount of dust and sand that may accumulate on rover surfaces. The new cameras can also take pictures while the rover is moving. The enhanced engineering cameras share the same camera body, but use different lenses selected for each camera's specific task.
Navigation Cameras (NavCams)
Two sets of color stereo Navigation Cameras, called NavCams will help engineers navigate Mars 2020 safely, particularly when the rover operates autonomously, making its own navigation decisions without consulting controllers on Earth. Located up high on the rover's mast, these two sets of black-and-white stereo cameras help engineers drive the rover around Mars. They can see an object as small as a golf ball from 82 feet (25 meters) away. Before Mars 2020 "drives blind”, the navigation cameras initially help ensure a safe path. Blind-drive mode occurs when engineers command the rover to drive a certain distance in a certain direction, and the rover's computer "brains" calculate distance from wheel rotations without looking or checking for wheel slippage.
Hazard Avoidance Cameras (HazCams)
The Mars 2020 rover will carry six newly developed Hazard Detection Cameras, called HazCams: four on the front and two on the rear of the rover body. HazCams detect hazards to the front and back pathways of the rover, such as large rocks, trenches, or sand dunes. Engineers will also use the front HazCams to see where to move the robotic arm to take measurements, photos, and collect rock and soil samples. When driving, the rover stops frequently to take new stereo images of the path ahead to evaluate potential hazards. The 3D views give Mars 2020 the ability to make its own decisions about where to drive without consulting on every move with the rover team on Earth.
Record Sample Collection Camera (CacheCam)
The CacheCam is a single camera that looks down at the top of the sample cache. It takes pictures of sampled materials and the sample tubes as they are being prepared for sealing and caching. This helps scientists watch over the samples as they are being obtained, and keeps a record of the entire process for each sample collected.
All three lens types were built in a Jenoptik Class 5 clean room with state-of-the-art filtration technology for high-precision optical assemblies. Custom test equipment was developed at Jenoptik to measure the optical performance during the demanding temperature extremes to withstand the conditions on Mars. The company performed several environmental tests in vacuum and over a wide temperature range with the lowest temperature being -135°C.
Click here to know more about the NASA’s Mars 2020 Cameras.
Click here to know more about Jenoptik's Optical systems.
