Researchers have developed a semi-autonomous robotic system designed to improve the exploration of planetary surfaces, including Mars. This should enable much faster exploration than before.
Exploring Mars remains a slow process due to communication delays between Earth and the planet, which can range from four to 22 minutes. Limited data transfer capacity and strict safety requirements mean that rover activities must be carefully planned.
As a result, current rovers move slowly and typically cover only a few hundred meters per day, limiting the amount of terrain and geological data that can be studied.
To address these challenges, researchers tested a robot capable of operating with reduced human input.
Instead of focusing on one rock at a time, the robot can move between multiple targets and collect data independently.
This approach allows the system to analyze several locations in sequence, improving efficiency and increasing the amount of data collected.
The team used the ANYmal robot, equipped with a robotic arm carrying two instruments: a microscopic imager and a portable Raman spectrometer.
The project involved collaboration with the Robotic Systems Lab at ETH Zurich, ETH Zurich Space, the University of Zurich, and the University of Bern.
Testing took place at the Marslabor facility at the University of Basel, which simulates planetary conditions using analogue materials and lighting.
During experiments, the robot navigated to selected targets, positioned its instruments, and transmitted images and spectral data for analysis.
The system successfully identified multiple rock types relevant to planetary exploration, including gypsum, carbonates, basalts, dunite, and anorthosite.
Researchers compared traditional human-guided missions with the semi-autonomous method. Multi-target missions were completed in 12 to 23 minutes, while a similar human-controlled mission took 41 minutes.
In testing, the robot also maintained accuracy, correctly identifying all selected targets in one case.
The study shows that compact instruments combined with autonomous systems can deliver meaningful scientific results.
This method could allow future missions to cover larger areas and focus on the most promising samples.
By reducing reliance on constant human control, robots can move more freely, collect data faster, and improve the efficiency of planetary exploration.
The findings suggest that semi-autonomous robots could play a key role in future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, supporting both resource exploration and the search for signs of past life.
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