# 371: All Martian Things Considered

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2021-04-29
- Length: 1h 06m
- Episode: 371
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-29-371-all-martian-things-considered
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/371

## Summary

Doug Ellison, Engineering Camera Team Lead at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, discusses the operational challenges and technical details of the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers' camera systems. He explains how extreme cold, radiation, and fine regolith dust affect hardware, the evolution from heritage 1-megapixel sensors to Perseverance's 20-megapixel cameras, and the reliance on Mars orbiters for data relay. Ellison also details the autonomous driving algorithms like visual odometry and AEGIS, the use of HoloLens for terrain visualization, and the logistical complexities of operating on Mars time.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-29-371-all-martian-things-considered#t=6) Introduction and Lightning Round
- [2:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-29-371-all-martian-things-considered#t=170) Environmental Hardening: Cold, Radiation, and Dust
- [4:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-29-371-all-martian-things-considered#t=295) Camera Hardware Evolution and Computer Switchover
- [14:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-29-371-all-martian-things-considered#t=867) Data Relay via Orbiters and Compression Algorithms
- [17:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-29-371-all-martian-things-considered#t=1070) Mission Operations: Planning, Automation, and AEGIS
- [31:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-29-371-all-martian-things-considered#t=1894) Visualization Tools: OnSight, HoloLens, and VR
- [46:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-29-371-all-martian-things-considered#t=2763) Power Constraints, RTG Degradation, and Mars Time
- [53:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-29-371-all-martian-things-considered#t=3232) Testing, Landing, and Dust Characteristics

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Curiosity (product)
- Perseverance (product)
- Ingenuity (product)
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (product)
- MAVEN (product)
- ExoMars TGO (product)
- HoloLens (product)
- OnSight (product)
- AEGIS (product)
- LOCO (product)
- SPENDI (product)
- MAHLI (product)
- MastCam (product)
- ChemCam (product)
- Spirit (product)
- Opportunity (product)
- PanCam (product)
- Mars Global Surveyor (product)
- Mars Odyssey (product)
- Voyager (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S1E58 NASA, Systems Engineering, and Sending Robots to Space | David Oh](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh) (Being an Engineer)
- [David Oh | NASA, Systems Engineering, and Sending Robots to Space](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-12-23-david-oh-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space) (Being an Engineer)
- [Episode 127: Robots exploring other planets - Frances Zhu](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu) (Robot Talk)
- [Ep078: Happy B-Day MP3, Eavesdrop on a Mars Probe, Shadowcasting 7-Segments, & a Spicy Commodore 64](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-07-31-ep078-happy-b-day-mp3-eavesdrop-on-a-mars-probe-shadowcasting-7-segments-a-spicy) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep059: Hydraulic Rockets & Presses, Machine Vision Bounces & Stares, Smart Speakers Listen to You](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-03-19-ep059-hydraulic-rockets-presses-machine-vision-bounces-stares-smart-speakers-lis) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-29-371-all-martian-things-considered. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.