Having a ball with helper 'bots on Mars

By next fall, NASA plans to launch it's biggest Red Planet rover yet, the $1.8 billion, SUV-size Mars reasearch Laboratory. A group of Swedish reseachers say the rover could accomplish far more if joined by a squad of ball-shaped helper 'bots.

Pretty cool article regarding the helper bot balls. I'm fairly new to the Martian probes and rovers scene, but this seems to make sense in that they can "roll" pretty much anywhere. Cool technology - is this old news?

Cant get the link to show even though I've entered it. Hmm.

www.cnn.com...

ColoradoJens

[edit on 15-10-2008 by ColoradoJens]

[edit on 15-10-2008 by ColoradoJens]

[edit on 15-10-2008 by ColoradoJens]

Oh, wait, did I reply to my own post? Sorry about that, ahmm.
"It's the pleats...
I'll just be taking these pants back to the ah...pants, the pants store.
Don't tell me your not impressed."

ColoradoJens

Wasn't it this link that you wanted?

Interesting anyhow...

Makes me wonder though... What will be the "life expectancy" of this one? Given that Spirit & Opportunity were supposed to last a few months only and they are still up & running...

reply to post by SpookyVince


Thanks SpookyVince. I have tried a couple of times today to get the right link there but it continues to default to the tech home page? First time having said issue. Considering one person has responded, perhaps not that interesting of a thread.

ColoradoJens

Please direct your comments to this ongoing Thread

Future of Flagship Mars Mission Up In the Air



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