little math problem October 2018

[Dave Shaffer]

(10-22-2018 06:33 PM)Zaphod Wrote:  

Quote:Though how would the rovers know they are making a spiral and not just going in a circle or random directions.

Extremely sensitive lateral acceleration sensors would tell you if you were spirialing in or out, or simply circling.

These could (should!) be part of an inertial navigation system (INS). Rovers thus equipped could readily navigate around a moon-sized "planet" and need NO help from other systems (GPS, stars, equator/pole, magnetic poles, etc.). If the planet is hard and smooth, there will be no hills on which to plant flags, and there will be no tracks left in the dust.

So, they should implement Thomas's spiral approach - the best so far for the case of no other initial knowledge about the planet. (Ian Abbott's idea of leaving "bread crumbs" behind is perhaps the next best approach, but you may need a goodly supply. An INS, and perhaps a string with a weight on it (defining "down"), would keep the rovers close enough to a great circle route.)