On a roll: Designing the next rover to explore Mars
Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 10:11
in Astronomy & Space
The concept of a wind-powered vehicle that can be used to explore the surface of Mars - a so-called 'tumbleweed rover' that would roll over the surface of Mars like a tumbleweed - has been around for more than 10 years, but so far there has been no consensus on exactly what that vehicle should look like. Now researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a computer model that allows engineers to test the attributes of different vehicle designs. This will allow researchers to select the best design characteristics before spending the time and money necessary to create prototypes for testing in real-world conditions...