The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Building an open source excavation robot for NASA (Interview)
Dec 11, 2019
Ronald Marrero, a software developer for NASA’s Artemis program, shares his incredible journey from UCF to working on the open-source excavation robot, EasyRazor. He discusses the collaborative effort behind the project, emphasizing student engagement and the importance of making resources accessible. Marrero dives into the challenges faced during development, including coding intricacies and simulating Martian conditions. The conversation highlights innovations like swarm technology and 3D printing, underscoring the significance of public involvement in advancing space exploration.
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Easy RAZR's Purpose
- NASA's Swamp Works team developed the RAZR, a robot for In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) operations.
- The Easy RAZR project is an open-source version, aiming to educate and enable wider participation.
Beyond Computer Science
- Developing Easy RAZR exposed the team to challenges beyond typical computer science, like dealing with Martian dust storms and varying gravity fields.
- This broadened their understanding of real-world space exploration problems.
Using ROS
- Easy RAZR uses ROS (Robot Operating System), a robotics middleware, as its software foundation.
- ROS simplifies robot control by using messages, enabling modular development and easier hardware integration.