Wolfgang Fink Hansel and Gretel’s breadcrumb trick inspires robotic exploration of caves on Mars and beyond

Hansel and Gretel’s breadcrumb trick inspires robotic exploration of caves on Mars and beyond

Wolfgang Fink | Via University of Arizona | March 1, 2023

University of Arizona engineers have developed a system that allows autonomous vehicles to scout out underground habitats for astronauts.

House hunting on Mars could soon become a thing, and researchers at the University of Arizona are already in the business of scouting real estate that future astronauts could use as habitats. Researchers in the UArizona College of Engineering have developed technology that would allow a flock of robots to explore subsurface environments on other worlds.

“Lava tubes and caves would make perfect habitats for astronauts because you don’t have to build a structure; you are shielded from harmful cosmic radiation, so all you need to do is make it pretty and cozy,” said Wolfgang Fink, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at UArizona… Continue reading.