Testing Mars 2020’s Engineering Cameras

The left view is a sample view of a pile of rocks taken in the "Mars Yard" testing area at JPL. The right picture illustrates one way the camera data can be used to reveal the contours of a target from a distance.
These Mars 2020 navigation camera, or Navcam, views show a pile of rocks taken from a distance of about 15 meters (about 50 feet) in the "Mars Yard" testing area at JPL. The pictures illustrate one way the camera data can be used to reveal the contours of a target from a distance. Such measurements give the rover and its team the knowledge they need to plan precise travel and arm movements.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
May 23, 2017
CreditNASA/JPL-Caltech
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  • english

These images show an example of what Mars 2020's navigation camera, or NavCam, sees. For example, the Mars 2020 navigation camera, or NavCam, views show a pile of rocks as seen by the rover, from 15 meters (roughly 50 feet) away, in the "Mars Yard" testing area at JPL. The pictures show how the camera data reveals the contours of a target, or its shape in 3D, from a distance. This gives the rover team the information they need to plan precise travel and arm movements.

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