PYTHEAS EXPLORER

Global Nominee

PYTHEAS EXPLORER received a Global Nomination.

Solar System

Develop an approach for characterizing the composition of asteroid for mining potential and a process for mining different compositions. Explore a possible division of labor involving different types of vehicles (e.g. sensor units, drilling units, power gathering and distribution, extracted resources handling and transferring). Consider solutions for moving said asteroids between different orbits and/or consequently make periodical adjustments to keep them in place. Analyze how your idea would cope in some of the given scenarios or outline a scheme of your own.

Explanation

We are LightPath (http://lightpath.io/) an amazing group of entrepreneurs, developers, lovers of science and technology and most important we are great friends searching for a better world.

Asteroids are rich sources of valuable minerals, whose identification, exploration and exploitation are complex tasks; therefore, our team has built Pytheas Explorer. (http://pytheas.lightpath.io/)

Pytheas Explorer consists of exploration tools, using technologies for image analysis with structure sensor (http://structure.io/) and enhanced exploration with virtual reality. This app is not only for mining objectives but also it is a tool for education and space tourism.

PYTHEAS EXPLORER

Please watch this other video:

We use the structure sensor (http://structure.io/) to scan the entire surface of the asteroids.
Our app analyze the data collected from NASA, JPL Small-Body Database Browser (http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi#top), and Minor Planet Center (http://minorplanetcenter.org/iau/mpc.html); in order to determinate the composition of the asteroids.
Once we have collected all the relevant information concerning the asteroid, we are ready to visualize the mining potential of it; in order to select the best area to explore with our robot.
Our app analizes the surface of asteroids to get a 3D model; in order to study the possible mining areas.
Pytheas Explorer sends a robotic miner explorer (R.M.E.) to collect mineral samples, R.M.E. uses Augmented reality (point 3) to arrive quick and safe to its destiny.
From Earth or a near spaceships, astronauts can use the generated 3D model to check out the current exploration (position and collected data).
We have developed a virtual reality app that helps us control the R.M.E, in the is scanning and exploring tasks through the asteroid surface. This app work in real time and it could be really useful for astronauts.