New robotic snakes can assist in exploring the Moon

Researchers at the SINTEF Institute, a research institute in Norway are working on a snake-shaped robot design that could one day perform maintenance tasks on space stations or explore lava tubes on Moon.

Currently, the study is being funded by the European Space Agency, which aims to establish a future international settlement on the Moon including exploration and study of lava tubes, subterranean tunnel structures. Moon land is extremely important.

This solid autonomous robot will also be one of the exploration and discovery tools in future ambitious exploration projects of people.

New robotic snakes can assist in exploring the Moon Picture 1

Besides, ESA will predict the role of this solid robot on comets. Earlier, the agency tried to bring people to the comet 67P / Tsjurjumov-Gerasimenko in 2014. However, this event was only partially successful when the plane carrying Philae flew to the dark comet. when the energy is out, it is impossible to recharge and must return, stopping the survey.

Accordingly, this snake-shaped robot will be smaller, thinner with the same shape as a snake, it moves flexibly on all surfaces, terrain with extremely specialized integrated engine system.

Aksel Transeth, researcher SINTEF said: "Comet is a gravity-free environment, so it can be knocked away at any time. So, the question is how to fix it on the comet surface ' .

The mission of bringing snake robots to comets or the moon can take a few more years and it can even be used to support the maintenance of the ISS International Space Station or to support station maintenance experts or non-service professionals. astronaut research scientist.

One of the main challenges that SINTEF scientists are facing when they build this robot is how to control it in a micro-environment.

'We believe that we can design a solid robot to hold, curl, and expand its flexible body on the surface of new contacts' - Transeth said. In addition, climbing and clinging to its International Space Station ISS must also be very flexible.

Next year, NASA is expected to send three small robots called Astrobee to the space station. These small exploration robots will help astronauts with a variety of tasks in the near future.

And finally, researchers at SINTEF hope that after the successes and failures in the process of making this robot will be the motivation for them to produce a complete product in the future.