Instrument Information
IDENTIFIER urn:nasa:pds:context:instrument:hazcam.msl::1.2
NAME Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover Hazard Avoidance Camera
TYPE Imager
DESCRIPTION The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity Rover carries 8 Hazard Avoidance Cameras (Hazcams). Two stereo pairs (one as a redundant backup) are mounted on the center of the front panel of the rover body with a boresight 68 cm above the base of the wheels. Two stereo pairs (one as a redundant backup) are mounted on the rear panel of the rover body with a boresight 78 cm above the base of the wheels; one pair is near the port side of the rover and the other pair is near the starboard side. Both front and rear Hazcams are pointed directly away from the rover 45 degrees off nadir. The redundant cameras are connected to the backup rover computer and are not expected to be used unless there is a problem with the primary rover computer and/or primary cameras. Each Hazcam pair assembly includes two cameras mounted to achieve a stereo view (a 16.6 cm stereo baseline for each of the front pairs, and 10 cm for each of the rear pairs). The Hazcams provide imaging primarily of the near field (< 5 m) both in front of and behind the rover. These cameras provide image data that are used by the rover computer to build range maps and perform onboard hazard detection and avoidance. They also support science operations for selecting near field targets and robotic arm operations. The Hazcams will be used to take images of the landscape that will help the rover avoid any obstacles in the way of the traverse. Each Hazcam consists of a detector head and an electronics box. The detector head houses an optical lens assembly and a Charge Coupled Device detector (CCD). The electronics box contains the CCD driver electronics, the 12-bit Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), camera/rover interface electronics, and a heater resistor that will keep the box above the minimum operating temperature of 218 K. The Hazcams use a broadband visible filter and produce 1024 x 1024 pixel images.
MODEL IDENTIFIER
NAIF INSTRUMENT IDENTIFIER
SERIAL NUMBER not applicable
REFERENCES Maki, J.N., et al., Mars Exploration Rover Engineering Cameras, J. Geophys. Res., 108(E12), 8071, doi:10.1029/2003JE002077, 2003.

Maki, J.N., et al., The Mars Science Laboratory Engineering Cameras, Space Sci. Rev. 2012, doi:10.1007/s11214-012-9882-4, 10 May 2012.