DAME: Planetary-Prototype Drilling Automation

TLDR

The drill hardware is a hardened, evolved version of the Advanced Deep Drill by Honeybee Robotics. The DAME project demonstrated adaptive, hands‑off drilling automation with diagnostic, executive, and dynamic recovery capabilities, validated during 2004–2006 Arctic field tests at a Mars analog site.

Abstract

We describe results from the Drilling Automation for Mars Exploration (DAME) project, including those of the summer 2006 tests from an Arctic analog site. The drill hardware is a hardened, evolved version of the Advanced Deep Drill by Honeybee Robotics. DAME has developed diagnostic and executive software for hands-off surface operations of the evolved version of this drill. The DAME drill automation tested from 2004 through 2006 included adaptively controlled drilling operations and the downhole diagnosis of drilling faults. It also included dynamic recovery capabilities when unexpected failures or drilling conditions were discovered. DAME has developed and tested drill automation software and hardware under stressful operating conditions during its Arctic field testing campaigns at a Mars analog site.