Rolling, hopping robots explore Earthly analogs of distant planets

Admin Uncategorized

Before we send any planet-trotting robot to explore the landscape of Mars or Venus, we need to test it here on Earth. Two such robotic platforms being developed for future missions are undergoing testing at European Space Agency facilities: one that rolls, and one that hops.

The rolling one is actually on the books to head to the Red Planet as part of the ESA’s Mars 2020 program. It’s just wrapped a week of testing in the Spanish desert, just one of many Mars analogs the space program uses. It looks nice. The gravity’s a little different, of course, and there’s a bit more atmosphere, but it’s close enough to test a few things.

The team controlling Charlie, which is what they named the prototype, was doing so from hundreds of miles away, in the U.K. — not quite an interplanetary distance, but they did of course think to simulate the delay operators would encounter if the rover were actually on Mars. It would also have a ton more instruments on board.

ESA shows off sweet new renders of the Exomars 2020 rover

Exploration and navigation was still done entirely using information collected by the rover via radar and cameras, and the rover’s drill was also put to work. It rained one day, which is extraordinarily unlikely to happen on Mars, but the operators presumably pretended it was a dust storm and rolled with it.

Another Earth-analog test is scheduled for February in Chile’s Atacama desert. You can learn more about the ExoMars rover and the Mars 2020 mission here.

The other robot that the ESA publicized this week isn’t theirs but was developed by ETH Zurich: the SpaceBok —  you know, like springbok. The researchers there think that hopping around like that well-known ungulate could be a good way to get around on other planets.

It’s nice to roll around on stable wheels, sure, but it’s no use when you want to get to the far side of some boulder or descend into a ravine to check out an interesting mineral deposit. SpaceBok is meant to be a highly stable jumping machine that can traverse rough terrain or walk with a normal quadrupedal gait as needed (well, normal for robots).

“This is not particularly useful on Earth,” admits SpaceBok team member Elias Hampp, but “it could reach a height of four meters on the Moon. This would allow for a fast and efficient way of moving forward.”

It was doing some testing at the ESA’s “Mars Yard sandbox,” a little pen filled with Mars-like soil and rocks. The team is looking into improving autonomy with better vision — the better it can see where it lands, the better SpaceBok can stick that landing.

Interplanetary missions are very much in vogue now, and we may soon even see some private trips to the Moon and Mars. So even if NASA or the ESA doesn’t decide to take SpaceBok (or some similarly creative robot) out into the solar system, perhaps a generous sponsor will.

Read more: https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/29/rolling-hopping-robots-explore-earthly-analogs-of-distant-planets/

4,436 thoughts to “Rolling, hopping robots explore Earthly analogs of distant planets”

  9. C8VkSK You must participate in a contest for top-of-the-line blogs on the web. I will advocate this website!

  10. Qo1DiA You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable.

  11. aYyKZH Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

  13. WKtiOx You ave made some good points there. I checked on the web to find out more about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this site.

  18. BhmkIy poker bonuses What are the norms of copyright of web content? How as it different from Patent?

  20. XwWhjI Some times its a pain in the ass to read what blog owners wrote but this site is very user genial!.

  21. h9syKo Valuable Website I have been checking out some of your posts and i can claim clever stuff. I will definitely bookmark your blog.

  22. zj0Lav This is a really good site post, im delighted I came across it. Ill be back down the track to check out other posts that

  23. wmfPSu Your style is very unique in comparison to other people I ave read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you ave got the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this page.

  25. Ns0ww8 My brother recommended I might like this website. He was totally right. This post truly made my day. You cann at imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

  29. hqo6mv Wow, what a video it is! In fact good feature video, the lesson given in this video is in fact informative.

  32. v8ZIt5 It is not acceptable just to think up with an important point these days. You have to put serious work in to exciting the idea properly and making certain all of the plan is understood.

  36. z4sNRc Its hard to find good help I am constantnly saying that its difficult to procure good help, but here is

  38. NzCrF2 SARIT Yap Malzemeleri dikenli tel Kocaeli, Izmit, Derince ve evresinde it Sistemleri Panel it rg Tel Kafesli Tel Dikenli Tel Jiletli Tel Fileli Tel Ferforje Sarit

  43. jYhhuS What as up everybody, here every person is sharing these kinds of experience, therefore it as pleasant to read this webpage, and I used to visit this web site daily.

  44. EosW9N ItaаАа’б‚Т€ТšаЂаŒаАа’б‚Т€ТžаБТžs difficult to get knowledgeable folks on this subject, but the truth is be understood as what happens you are preaching about! Thanks

  45. WjJLOf You made some decent factors there. I looked on the internet for the difficulty and located most people will go together with along with your website.

  49. hni09Y The Silent Shard This could most likely be fairly beneficial for many of your respective job opportunities I intend to never only with my website but

  55. EWFcoD It’а†s actually a nice and useful piece of info. I am satisfied that you shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  57. 7ieYC1 You can definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The sector hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren at afraid to mention how they believe. At all times follow your heart.

  58. lw9PAX I was reading through some of your blog posts on this website and I conceive this website is rattling instructive! Retain posting.

  61. 12fHEh There is clearly a bunch to identify about this. I think you made certain nice points in features also.

  63. fwUHBO Quickly and easily build your web traffic and PR, which provides Web site visitors to add your page to any social bookmarking website.

  65. s3tgIZ You made some really good points there. I checked on the net to find out more about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this web site.

  67. mcgAvf You should take part in a contest for one of the most useful websites on the net. I am going to highly recommend this blog!

  71. ldZPoL You can certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren at afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.

  73. iWyu3p Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we communicate?

  77. 3qudyn There is perceptibly a lot to know about this. I think you made various nice points in features also.

  79. WX6LnT whoah this blog is wonderful i love reading your articles. Keep up the great work! You know, many people are searching around for this info, you can aid them greatly.

  108. viagra uses dosage & side effects information in hindi
    cost of cialis and viagra
    cost per pill for generic viagra at walmart
    viagra side effects heart

  174. cialis price vs viagra cost
    viagra generic availability sildenafil citrate malegra 50mg
    price of cialis vs viagra
    side effects of viagra for womenwhenmentakeit

  200. I want to voice my appreciation for your generosity supporting those who really need help with that idea. Your real dedication to passing the solution across became quite practical and has really made ladies much like me to realize their dreams. Your new important hints and tips can mean a whole lot to me and additionally to my colleagues. Thank you; from each one of us.

  202. I simply desired to thank you very much once more. I’m not certain the things I could possibly have carried out in the absence of the pointers revealed by you over this field. Previously it was a real fearsome difficulty for me personally, nevertheless spending time with this skilled avenue you managed that made me to jump for contentment. Now i’m happier for your assistance and expect you are aware of a great job you happen to be doing training most people via your websites. Most probably you have never got to know all of us.

  204. A lot of thanks for your entire effort on this site. Kate loves carrying out internet research and it is simple to grasp why. My partner and i learn all concerning the powerful form you present invaluable tricks through this web blog and as well as foster response from others about this topic while our favorite simple princess is studying so much. Enjoy the rest of the year. You are performing a really great job.

  206. Thank you for every one of your work on this blog. My mother take interest in getting into research and it’s really simple to grasp why. Most people hear all of the compelling form you render good tips and tricks via the website and recommend participation from other individuals about this article so my child is studying a whole lot. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the year. You are always conducting a good job.

  208. Thank you so much for giving everyone remarkably superb opportunity to discover important secrets from this site. It is always very superb and as well , full of fun for me personally and my office mates to search your website really thrice per week to read through the new secrets you will have. Not to mention, I am just usually contented concerning the perfect creative concepts you serve. Selected 4 areas in this post are in fact the most impressive I’ve had.

  211. I simply wished to say thanks once more. I am not sure what I would have carried out without the type of ways documented by you about that theme. Certainly was a terrifying circumstance for me personally, however , encountering this skilled strategy you resolved it took me to weep over joy. I will be happier for the support and even hope you find out what a great job you have been putting in instructing some other people thru a site. Most probably you have never encountered all of us.

  213. I not to mention my guys have been going through the excellent solutions found on your website and then instantly developed a horrible suspicion I never thanked you for those techniques. The men ended up for this reason passionate to study them and have in effect really been having fun with those things. Many thanks for indeed being simply helpful and for opting for this kind of superior resources millions of individuals are really desirous to be aware of. My very own sincere regret for not expressing appreciation to you earlier.

  214. I together with my guys were actually taking note of the nice techniques from your web page and then unexpectedly got a horrible suspicion I had not thanked the blog owner for those secrets. My young boys are already for that reason stimulated to study them and have in effect simply been taking advantage of those things. Appreciation for indeed being simply thoughtful and for opting for these kinds of good things most people are really needing to understand about. My personal sincere regret for not saying thanks to sooner.

  222. Thanks for your own effort on this web page. My aunt loves engaging in internet research and it’s simple to grasp why. My partner and i notice all about the powerful form you present rewarding ideas on your blog and in addition welcome contribution from some other people about this concept then our own girl is undoubtedly understanding a lot. Take pleasure in the rest of the year. You are always doing a good job.

  224. I would like to show my appreciation for your kind-heartedness for those people who require help with that situation. Your very own dedication to getting the solution all-around appears to be remarkably beneficial and has continuously allowed men and women just like me to realize their desired goals. Your amazing helpful report indicates a great deal a person like me and additionally to my office colleagues. With thanks; from each one of us.

  228. I have to show my affection for your kindness for women who actually need guidance on this one question. Your very own dedication to getting the message all through had become amazingly insightful and has really made many people much like me to realize their pursuits. The warm and helpful publication denotes so much a person like me and somewhat more to my office workers. Thank you; from everyone of us.