The tiny spherical robots will explore Mars

Scientists are preparing to test hundreds of tiny spherical robots that will explore planets like Mars. These robots are housed in a travel chamber in the shape of an egg-shaped blister that can land on the surface of another planet.

Micro-robot models (Photo: BaoCanTho)

They can also be dropped on a planet by a hot air balloon. They will then move by rolling or bouncing through artificial muscles that change their shape.

Although this mission can only be expected at least 10 years later, scientists are almost ready to perform the test. Thanks to NASA funding, Dr. Steven Dubosky of the Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and colleagues developed a robotic prototype called ' micro-robot '. Laboratory tests will be carried out in September 2006 and next year in caves in New-Mexico.

Each micro-robot will have a diameter of several centimeters, weighs about 100g, and can perform high jumps of about 1.5m. They have the ability to self-travel over 50km and are equipped with scientific instruments such as camera, spectrometer and intercom.

Thanks to the spherical shape, micro-robots can travel in areas that today's planetary robots cannot access. They can also be studied collectively, so some lost robots will not affect the overall mission.