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The “space race” for Mars cooled down for a while, but news just came out! THE NASA has a new plan to explore Mars, but it still doesn't include sending humans there. Instead, the plan is to fund research to send tiny robot bees to explore the red planet. 642n3o
This new concept of exploring Mars was named by the NASA , the marsbee. In this idea, the agency intends to send a swarm of bees to the planet together with a Rover. This rover would still be needed as a mobile base for the swarm of marsbees.
Robot bees exploring Mars 125a1t
A NASA describes these marsbees as "robotic cicada-sized bees“. To communicate with the rover, they would be integrated with sensors and wireless communication. With that, the marsbees would be able to recharge on their own rover.
In the statement about the Robot Bees research, the NASA says that the swarm of robots would be able to significantly improve the exploration of Mars. In this logic, the research would allow the NASA reconfigure sensor networks and build resilient systems. Apart from that, it would also be possible to collect data or samples using a single swarm of marsbees.
In the official statement of NASA, the organization also cited the technical innovation behind the project. The research would bring as an innovation the use of wings similar to those of insects as a way of improving the aerodynamics of robots. Robot Bees, on top of that, would be a low-cost project.
The loss of Rovers 6qu1o
The organization's preliminary research says the project allows it to generate enough lift to float in the Martian atmosphere. In addition, robot bees would also bring greater flexibility to the actions of the NASA in Mars.
Os Rovers, traditionally used on the red planet, have demonstrated long-term cost problems. As they are very large and heavy, sending them to Mars is quite costly. This justifies the search for alternatives to make the program cheaper and more efficient.
Between Japan and USA 4m2y1y
This program would be a t collaboration of a japanese team and another North American. The Japanese part of the research will focus on the mechanics behind Robot Bees' wings. That is, the project that guarantees that Marsbees will indeed fly in the Martian atmosphere.
The US team NASA will be located in University of AlabamaOn Huntsville. It will model, analyze and numerically optimize a swarm of robotic bees. This, of course, has always been thought of for the atmospheric conditions on Mars.
just the beginning 3i261
However, it is worth ing that this whole project is just beginning. The research itself constitutes the first phase of the project. This Phase I would work to determine whether the movement and weight of the Robot Bees could work in the atmospheric conditions on Mars.
It is also worth ing that NASA has been working on several different projects on Mars. Including a previously tested supersonic parachute. In addition, private space companies are also interested in the red planet. A good example of this is the entrepreneur Elon Musk which has already released its plan to colonize Mars.
