The Cyborg Astrobiologist: Porting from a wearable computer to the Astrobiology Phone-cam

TL;DR

This paper presents the development of an astrobiology exploration system using a camera phone to enhance computer-vision capabilities for planetary exploration and other applications.

Contribution

It introduces a portable, camera phone-based system that improves the testing and development of computer-vision algorithms for astrobiology and geology exploration.

Findings

Enhanced exploration system with camera phone

Facilitated development of computer-vision algorithms

Potential applications beyond astrobiology

Abstract

We have used a simple camera phone to significantly improve an `exploration system' for astrobiology and geology. This camera phone will make it much easier to develop and test computer-vision algorithms for future planetary exploration. We envision that the `Astrobiology Phone-cam' exploration system can be fruitfully used in other problem domains as well.