Researchers Determine Why Robots Get Stuck in the Sand
Monday, February 9, 2009 - 18:07
in Astronomy & Space
Today's advanced mobile robots explore complex terrains across the globe and even on Mars, but have difficulty traversing sand. A study published Feb. 10 in PNAS takes what may be the first detailed look at the problem and recommends that robots attempting to move across sandy terrain should move their legs more slowly, especially if the sand is loosely packed.