Exploring an asteroid , comet or a small Sun Myung Moon like Mars ' Phobos is n’t easy . We ca n’t send a rover like Curiosity , because there just is n’t enough sombreness for it to pedal across the aerofoil . But what if we ship something much lighter and little ?
That ’s whatone teamof scientists is proposing with a third power - mold automaton they have called Hedgehog . The vehicle would n’t employ wheel ; instead , it would propel itself by whirl disc - shaped flywheels in its interior . Rotating them at high pep pill and then all of a sudden check them , the cube - shaped robot can send itself tumbling across the surface . And it can even perform precise tactics with the proficiency .
The research is a joint effort between NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory ( JPL ) , Stanford University in California , and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ) .
" Hedgehog is a different kind of robot that would hop and twig on the aerofoil instead of roll on wheels , " said Issa Nesnas , leader of the JPL team , in astatement . " It is shaped like a third power and can operate no matter which side it lands on . "
Hedgehog would weigh about 9 kilograms ( 20 pounds ) . stiletto heel sprinkle around the cube would protect its body and also allow it to fascinate onto the surface . In its casing , it could have a routine of cameras and instruments to study the surface of a comet or asteroid , and thanks to its “ hopping ” proficiency , it could research vast neighborhood . Its cube contour also makes it ideal to be carried by a prominent spacecraft to a name and address .
The robot can even get itself out of a tight situation . As see onComet 67P , there are a issue of sinkholes that could pose a problem to automatic explorers . But Hedgehog can perform a “ tornado ” maneuver , where it rapidly spins itself to move up and out of a hole .
Above is a video explanation of Hedgehog . NASA .
The projection is being fund through theNASA Innovative Advanced Concepts(NIAC ) program . The team envisages that Hedgehog could even be sovereign , hopping its agency across a celestial body and relay info to a spacecraft in compass .
Various tests were performed with Hedgehog epitome late , including in the simulated crushed - gravitational force surround on NASA’sC-9 aircraft , which take a crap looping flights to bring on microgravity for a short period of time .
While Hedgehog has n’t been formally picked for a mission yet , who be intimate ; maybe it ’ll be come to an asteroid or comet near you presently .
