Automated Drilling Field Demonstrations Exceed Goals, Go "Naked" in Haughton Crater 2006 DAME Tests
Brian Glass, Principal Investigator, Drilling Automation for Mars Exploration (DAME):
To look for ice or especially organics on Mars, we will need to drill below the oxidized and irradiated surface, probably at least 1-2m. Hardened subsurface ice layers aren't going to be addressed with lightweight scoops on manipulator arms, drills will be needed.
But drilling is an art form on Earth, even "automated" offshore oil drilling platforms have control rooms full of people watching and adjusting the drilling. Lightspeed delays of 5-20 minutes to Mars mean that approach won't work -- we will need complete, hands-off drilling with autonomous drills that monitor their own state, watch for choking and cave-ins and unexpectedly hard and soft materials downhole, and adjust themselves immediately to avoid getting stuck or broken.
