Abstract: Method of protecting a planetary rover vehicle, that travels in a manner that is at least partially autonomous, against an exterior environment that has become hostile wherein the vehicle takes shelter and emerges from shelter against the exterior environment of its own accord, respectively in response to first and second events delimiting a period in which the exterior environment is hostile. The vehicle is therefore isolated from the exterior environment during this period.

Abstract: The system comprises a plurality of passive target patterns (30, 31, 32, 33) situated on a surface (24) of an object to be located, and an approach sensor (19) including: a source (20) for emitting light towards said patterns; a receiver (22) for receiving light reflected from said object (21); and a processor member (23) connected to said source (20) and said receiver (22). Each passive pattern comprises a series of optically-readable elongate symbols disposed relative to one another in such a manner as to constitute a code, with the approach sensor serving to scan said object optically. The invention is applicable to docking and stowage maneuvers between two space vehicles.