Scientists Test Quadrupedal Robot for Resource Exploration on Other Planets

Researchers from the University of Basel, in collaboration with the European Space Agency, have successfully conducted tests on a quadrupedal robot designed to swiftly search for resources and signs of life on other planets. These results were published on the Frontiers in Space Technologies platform, emphasizing the significance of innovative technologies in the field of space exploration.

Current planetary missions face serious challenges, particularly due to communication delays between Earth and rovers. These delays can range from 4 to 22 minutes, forcing rovers to navigate cautiously through complex terrains, covering only a few hundred meters per day. This significantly limits scientists' ability to collect geological data over large areas, as all operations must be meticulously planned in advance.

To overcome these limitations, Dr. Gabriela Ligieza and her team developed a new semi-autonomous strategy. They tested the quadrupedal robot ANYmal, which was equipped with a robotic arm, a microscopic camera (MICRO), and a portable spectrometer. This equipment enables the robot to perform tasks with high precision and speed.

The tests were conducted at the Marslabor laboratory of the University of Basel, where conditions similar to the surfaces of other planets were recreated using rock analogs, dust, and appropriate lighting. This allowed scientists to assess how effectively the robot could perform its tasks under conditions that closely resemble real extraterrestrial environments.

“Our research question was whether a robot equipped with a simple scientific payload could quickly study multiple targets while simultaneously obtaining meaningful scientific results,” Dr. Gabriela Ligieza stated. “The results proved that even relatively compact tools can achieve a full scientific goal: identifying rocks that are significant for astrobiology and resource exploration.”

During the testing phase, researchers compared the traditional approach, where human operators control the robot, with the new semi-autonomous system. It turned out that the semi-autonomous multi-target mission was significantly faster, taking between 12 to 23 minutes, while the human-operated operation required 41 minutes. The robot successfully recognized all selected targets, including gypsum, carbonates, basalts, anorthosites, and dunites, which may indicate the presence of valuable resources.

According to Dr. Gabriela Ligieza, these findings suggest that for upcoming missions to the Moon and Mars, it would be more efficient to use agile robots capable of quickly locating potential mineral resources or signs of past life. “Instead of waiting for humans to give commands for every step, robots could navigate the terrain, rapidly scan rocks, and collect data,” the scientist stated, as quoted by Frontiers. “This approach would allow us to conduct research on planetary surfaces much faster.”

Thus, the study's results open new possibilities for automated missions in space, which could significantly alter the strategies for exploring other planets and searching for resources on them.