Exploring the surfaces of other worlds is a careful and time-consuming process. On Mars, communication between Earth and robotic explorers can take anywhere from four to 22 minutes. Limited data transfer capacity also restricts how much information can be sent back and forth. Because of these challenges, scientists must plan rover activities well in advance.
Rovers are built to conserve energy and avoid risks, so they travel slowly across rough terrain. In most cases, they cover only a few hundred meters per day, which limits how much of the surrounding landscape can be studied and makes it harder to gather a wide range of geological samples.
A Semi-Autonomous Robot That Can Explore Multiple Targets
To overcome these limits, researchers tested a different strategy. They developed a semi-autonomous robotic explorer capable of moving from one target to another and collecting data without constant human guidance. Instead of focusing on a single rock under close supervision, the robot can approach several locations and perform measurements at each one independently.
The results showed that robots equipped with compact instruments can greatly improve efficiency. This method speeds up both resource prospecting and the search for ‘biosignatures’ (ie, evidence of life) on planetary surfaces. By analyzing multiple targets in sequence, the robot can gather more data in less time.
The team set out to determine whether a robot carrying a relatively simple set of scientific tools could still deliver meaningful results while working quickly. Their findings confirmed that even compact instruments are capable of achieving key scientific goals, including identifying rocks important for astrobiology and resource exploration.
Testing the ANYmal Robot in Mars-Like Conditions
To evaluate this approach, the researchers used the four-legged robot ‘ANYmal.’ It was equipped with a robotic arm that carried two instruments: the microscopic imager MICRO and a portable Raman spectrometer developed for the ESA-ESRIC Space Resources Challenge. The project involved collaboration with the Robotic Systems Lab at ETH Zurich, ETH Zurich | Space, the University of Zurich, and the University of Bern.
Experiments were conducted at the ‘Marslabor’ facility at the University of Basel. This environment simulates planetary surface conditions using analogue rocks, ‘regolith’ (ie, planetary dust) materials, and analog lighting conditions. During testing, the robot moved autonomously toward selected targets, positioned its instruments with the robotic arm, and sent back images and spectral data for analysis.
