Curiosity robot moves by itself

Nearly a year after successfully landing on Mars, Curiosity robotics of the US Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will switch to self-driving mode.

A photo taken by the Curiosity robot itself sent from Mars.(Photo: Gizmodo)

Starting on August 27, this robot will use the automatic navigation system and initially enter the unspecified terrain areas.

Previously, all Curiosity paths were pre-approved by drivers at NASA, based on information obtained from stereotactic 3D images sent to Earth. But in a plan to explore more areas, this self-propelled vehicle will now be able to use its self-analysis system of images and figure out the easiest way for itself. This navigation system was also equipped for Oppoturnity - another self-propelled robot on Mars.

This option is particularly effective so Curiosity can increase the distance traveled by cutting the wait time from the earth. Specifically, robots will be able to move an extra 10m per day, which may sound too little, but have reduced Curiosity's travel time to more than a quarter of the time before. Now Curiosity is moving near Sharp Mountain in hopes of gathering soil samples to reveal the geological clues that form the red planet.