Instead of spending time and money planning a manned mission to Mars, why not send an army of robots into space to do all the work? A fleet of robots could be deployed to explore far-away planets, according to researchers at Caltech's Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory. From the Telegraph:
Robotic airships and satellites will fly above the surface of the distant world, commanding squadrons of wheeled rovers and floating robot boats...The systems will transform planetary exploration, says [Wolfgang] Fink, who envisages the cybernetic adventurers mapping the land and seascapes of Saturn’s moon, Titan—believed to have lakes of standing liquid—as well as closer planetary neighbors like Mars.
Researchers say the robots could command themselves and other robots with little input from ground control. All of which seems like a great idea, since the human space flight program isn't likely to take off anytime soon. Related Content: Discoblog: Billionaire to Throw a “Tickle Party” in Space Discoblog: How to Find Aliens? Look for Pollution on Other Planets Discoblog: Japan’s First Lady Claims She Went to Venus, Consorted With Aliens
Image: NASA
