Revised : 04 Nov 2018

Here is a list of proposed vehicles one could add to the simulation:

• Automated Cargo Hauler - An unmanned robotic vehicle that travels between settlements on cleared paths or roads, following navigation beacons. It carries cargo that is barter traded between the two settlements. These vehicles will occasionally break down and need to be to towed back to base for repairs.

• Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) - A ROV similar to the NASA MER or MSL rovers. It is remotely driven from a settlement to explore nearby sites of interest, performing scientific analysis and prospecting for mineral concentrations in place of a fully crewed exploration rover mission. An ROV moves slowly and is powered by an Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG). It requires a person at it's home settlement actively controlling it and must wait between operating sessions. ROV's occasionally break down and must be towed back to the settlement for repairs.

• Earth Return Vehicle (ERV) - ERV's allow crews of four Martian settlers to leave Mars and return to Earth. An ERV is located at an ERV base building, which has resource processes and storage to provide the ERV with methane fuel, oxygen and water (which can also be used by the settlement). After an ERV blasts off, the ERV base building is no longer useful and can be salvaged for parts. We will have to decide what reasons a crew of settlers will choose to return to Earth. Perhaps this will be based on length of stay on Mars, over crowding at the settlement, or due to medical problems that can't be treated at the settlement.

• Robotic Cargo Blimp - A relatively small robotic blimp that is able to fly between remote settlements, carrying light cargo for barter trade or emergency supplies. Robotic cargo blimps are solar battery powered, filled with hydrogen gas, and are greatly affected by wind. Blimps must have greater volume than their Earth counterparts due to Mars' low density atmosphere and is comparable to high-altitude balloons on Earth. Robotic cargo blimps occasionally crash and must be retrieved to a settlement and repaired.

• Transport Blimp - A larger, hydrogen gas-filled blimp that is capable of two passengers and very limited cargo. The transport blimp has a small methane-oxygen engine and is faster than the robotic cargo blimp, but is also greatly affected by wind speed and direction. This air vehicle allows people to travel between distant settlements and does not require a takeoff/landing strip. There is a risk of crashes due to high winds and malfunctions, and these are often fatal or in remote areas far from rescue.

• Fixed Wing Aircraft - A small, propeller-driven fixed wing aircraft that can carry two passengers and a small amount of cargo. It can only take off and land at settlements with prepared runways (represented as buildings). These aircraft use a methane-oxygen internal combustion engine and there is a risk of crashes due to malfunctions. Crashes are often fatal and the aircraft may not be repairable after one.

• Ballistic Hopper - A small methane or CO2 rocket craft that can carry a crew of four (or light cargo) aloft on a ballistic trajectory, then deploy an airfoil parachute and glide down to a destination settlement. Near the destination, the chute is cut away and the hopper uses it's remaining rocket engines in a controlled landing on a prepared landing pad. This provides rapid transport to nearly anywhere on the planet, but has significant crash risks and consumes a great deal of fuel.

Another approach to vehicles could be a modular one where there are multiple parts that used together provide a vehicle. The pros of this are custom vehicles for each mission depending on what the mission needs, possibly less vehicle design for coding. The cons are that preparing a vehicle for a mission might take some time and it could complicate the configuration XMLs a bit (though maybe not with good coding design). Below are some starting ideas for modular vehicle design or MVD.

• Basic vehicle base - A vehicle base containing 4 wheels, a reactor, and a driving unit with place for one module.
• Advanced vehicle base - A vehicle base containing 6 wheels, a reactor, and a driving unit with place for two modules and a tool in front.
• Extended vehicle base - A vehicle base containing 8 wheels, a reactor, and a driving unit with place for three module and two tool in front and back of the base respectively.
• Base extension - A towed extension on 4 wheels that can contain two modules and has it's own reactor.
• Driving units provide living space for two persons.

• Hab module - Basic habitation module that provides additional living space for 4 persons.
• Laboratory module - Basic laboratory module that provides research space for 2 persons.
• Cargo module - Basic module for hauling cargo. Can be open or closed (with breathing atmosphere).

• Pneumatic hand - A pneumatic hand for lifting.
• Bulldozer blade - A bulldozer blade (possible use for new structures)..
• Excavator - Used for excavating (possible use for new structures).
• Forklift - Similar to the Pneumatic hand.

1. See the development of NASA Apollo Program Lunar Rover Vehicle at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o789-lR0HM4