Next Martian Explorer

Researchers from SINTEF Research Institute, at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology conducting a feasibility study for the European Space Agency have developed a robotic snake that is planned to be sent to Mars. The robot will be adapted to the Martian environment.

The detachable snake-like robot will have greater access to nooks and crannies of the red planet. (Picture from: http://www.whas11.com/)

"We started the study back in June and will finish sometime in December," Transeth told ABC News. The study is more like a written report than it is a series of experiments, he said. However, the ideas on paper could make its way into a prototype within a few months.

Researchers believe that the snake robot could help address the key challenges in exploring Mars. As quoted from Dailymail, that the snake robot could crawl well as rock climbing and move through small holes.

According Aksel Transeth, one a senior researcher at the institute that innovation in the form of a snake robot is deliberately designed to be able to explore the most difficult parts such as hills, caves, or the extreme craters in the red planet.

The snake robot will be named Wheeko and is in the testing stage to walked on flat surfaces. Its circuit consists of ten modules that make up like human joints and each has a driver to be spinning. 

NASA's Curiosity and Opportunity Rovers successfully helped scientists gather more data about Mars. The rovers had been sent previously are often stuck in the Martian sands. A more flexible snake robot could be key in the effort to go to a place that can not be explored by the Rovers. The cable will connect the robot with rovers to help provide power, communications, and emergency situation. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DAILYMAIL | ABC NEWS | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 26092013]
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