stim3on, 10 days ago

@65dBnoise Did you notice the SHERLOC focusing sequence?
It was my understanding that since the cover failure, the focusing mechanism was out of order, but maybe they got it running again!
Except maybe it's focusing via changing the distance to the object, I didn't check for that yet.
https://areobrowser.com/#/mode=perseverance&id=P1147SC&instruments=SC&timeframe=sol:1147

65dBnoise, 10 days ago (edited 10 days ago)

@stim3on
Yes, I saw that earlier. Wrote a short alien story too, but didn't post it 🙃 😀
Looks like normal focusing to me, since the size of the target doesn't seem to change, despite the blur.

stim3on, 10 days ago

@65dBnoise Yeah, good news I guess 👍

AkaSci, 10 days ago (edited 10 days ago)

@stim3on @65dBnoise
It is possible that the SHERLOC camera is closer to the target in the focused image vs the earlier unfocused one. The calibration target seems to be a tad larger in the focused image.

65dBnoise, 10 days ago

@AkaSci @stim3on

Doesn't seem so. Here is a comparison with an old one from Sol 712, much earlier than when the problem occurred.

Animation

SHERLOC_ACI
looking E (94°) from RMC 33.2864
Sol 712, LMST: 22:32:18

Original: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/00712/ids/edr/browse/shrlc/SC3_0712_0730185006_101ECM_N0332864SRLC15044_0000LMJ01.png
Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/65dBnoise

#Perseverance #Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space

video/mp4

stim3on, 10 days ago

@65dBnoise @AkaSci Hmm loking at it in motion in @Landru79 's gif, it sure looks to me like physical arm motion with all the jittering.
https://x.com/landru79/status/1790059963923996821

65dBnoise, 10 days ago

@stim3on @AkaSci @Landru79
Yes, that's interesting. The result may depend on how the focusing mechanism works. This is not a common camera, it has a "co-boresighted Deep Ultraviolet laser and a special autofocusing/scanning optical system". The mechanism has to satisfy different requirements. But the jitter seems unusual.

Can't recall seeing another similar focusing exercise.

65dBnoise, 5 days ago

@stim3on
Whatever the method, SHERLOC_ACI appears to be functional again:

SHERLOC_ACI
looking down (-84°) from RMC 52.2638
Sol 1153, LMST: 16:36:25

Original: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/01153/ids/edr/browse/shrlc/SC2_1153_0769312636_339ECM_N0522638SRLC00244_0000LMJ01.png
Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/65dBnoise

#Perseverance #Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space

stim3on, 5 days ago

@65dBnoise I bet there is an interesting story to be told about a group of engineers in the Marsyard working long nights to develop a plan how to regain focusing capability with Sherloc by incrementally moving the robotic arm :)

65dBnoise, 5 days ago

@stim3on
We only need someone to tell it.

tom30519, 4 days ago

@stim3on @65dBnoise
In the "Mars 2020 Perseverance SHERLOC WATSON Camera Pre-delivery Characterization and Calibration Report" (K. S. Edgett et al, 2019) the expected depth of field is pretty narrow at close working distances. Very precise (or lucky!) positioning of the robotic arm would be required.