In one of the wilder ideas weve heard for planetary exploration, NASAsJet Propulsion Laboratory is proposing that we send a little robotic helicopter to Mars as an aerial scout for a rover on the ground. The copter would be completely self-contained, using a small solar panel to give it a few minutes of flight time every day, while simultaneously storing up enough energy to keep itself from freezing to death at night. This is more than just a concept, too: theres video of the prototype flying in Martian atmospheric conditions which you can see after the break,because hey, its Video Friday. <\/p>\n
The JPL Mars Helicopter could potentially triple the distance that rovers are able to drive each day, since the robotwill be able to confidently survey the route and pre-plan ways around obstacles or dangerous areas. Also, the helicopter could fly around to check out potential sampling sites, making sure that the rover only has to travel between areas that have already been identified as interesting. <\/p>\n
Trying to fly where there isnt much atmosphere to work with is tricky, but its cool that the prototype can be tested in a gigantic vacuum chamber that lets researchers see if it would really work. If this thing gets added to a mission, were looking at a 1 kilogram vehicle with a 1 meter blade span and a body about the size of a box of tissues. Its got my vote. <\/p>\n
[ JPL ] <\/p>\n
We only just found out this week that ATLAS is done with its upgrades, and already MIT is getting the robot to walk, after less than a day: <\/p>\n
[ MIT DRC ] <\/p>\n
Yet anotherrobot-themed cafe has just opened in Tokyo, this one staffed (sort of) by Robis: <\/p>\n
And if thats not enough Robi for you, how about this: <\/p>\n
Via [ YouTube ] <\/p>\n
My editor once said that RHex, the super strong and nimble hexapod, is the honey badger of robots. But RHex is not just all brawn. It turns out the robot has an artistic side as well. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read the original: <\/p>\n
Video Friday: Mars Helicopter, 100 Dancing Robots, and Putin's Combat Cyborg<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In one of the wilder ideas weve heard for planetary exploration, NASAsJet Propulsion Laboratory is proposing that we send a little robotic helicopter to Mars as an aerial scout for a rover on the ground. The copter would be completely self-contained, using a small solar panel to give it a few minutes of flight time every day, while simultaneously storing up enough energy to keep itself from freezing to death at night Continue reading