The Mars Mars probe must

The Curiosity robot on Mars is undergoing a "brain replacement" with an updated software version to prepare for upcoming missions, NASA's Jet Jet Engine Laboratory in California said.

Software updates are one of the steps to prepare for tasks such as drive and use very strong robotic arms. The new software version is preinstalled on two reserve computers of the robot.

JPL said that the new software was saved to the memory card of the robot during the flight from Earth to the Red Planet from November 2011.

'We have designed from the beginning to have the software be updated with the necessary software for each stage of the mission, " said Ben Cichy, software designer for JPL.

"The current software version that Curiosity is using focuses on landing tasks, so many of the features of the current software we don't need anymore , " Cichy said.

Image processing to detect obstacles is a feature of the new updated version, which allows robots to move longer by making it more autonomous in detecting and avoiding obstacles and moving in a safe way. all.

One of the panoramic color photos taken by the Curiosity robot and sent to earth.

The updated version will also help Curiosity use robot flight wings. While Curiosity is finalizing the software update process, NASA scientists are still analyzing photographs of the Gale basin scene captured and sent by robots.

JPL is discussing what to do on Mars after having done some initial checks.

Curiosity carries 10 scientific devices, 10 times the amount of equipment that Spirit and Opportunity carried before.

Among them is a laser launcher to check the composition of rock from a distance. Curiosity will use a drill and shovel at the end of the robotic arm to sample the rock, then screen and classify the analytical sample to find out any previous and present signs of life.

Observations show that on the Red Planet there are clay and sulfate minerals in the lower layers, showing that the place used to be wet, JPL said.

The time to complete the new software update process is about 4 days. During this time, all other activities were suspended. The reason is to avoid interference, and give engineers enough time to complete and be sure the robot is operating on schedule.