Scientists propose rolling robot with microdrones to explore hidden tunnels on Mars

Cientistas wants to send a robot inspired by pill bugs to investigate the biggest tunnels in the solar system. The robot, called a “roly-poly robot”, will carry thousands of small dandelion-shaped drones that will be dispersed inside the Martian caves to map their extent. The idea comes from Mostafa Hassanalian, Universidade Tecnológica Associate Professor of Novo México, who develops technology based on biomimetics, the concept that robotics should copy solutions that nature has already mastered.

The lava tubes in Marte are gigantic. Pesquisadores have already identified tunnel systems over 1,200 kilometers long, enough to cover three times the continental Estados Unidos. Alguns of these tunnels reach more than 250 meters wide eight times larger than the northeastern volcanic caves of Califórnia in Terra. But the larger the tunnel system, the more difficult it is to explore with current technology.

The limits of Martian rovers

The Curiosity and Perseverance rovers revolutionized the exploration of Marte, but they reached the limit when it came to entering lava tubes. Hassanalian explains that the rovers are the size of a school bus, which prevents them from entering many cave openings. The Martian atmosphere also presents extreme challenges. Ventos can reach up to 97 kilometers per hour, tearing pieces off the rovers over the years.

Conventional exploration attempts face insurmountable obstacles. A giant rover cannot navigate inside a tight tunnel. Traditional Sensores do not work in environments without sunlight. Space engineering needed a completely different approach, one that copied nature’s greatest secret: lightness and efficiency on a microscopic scale.

Como works roly-poly robot

The concept begins with the implementation of a robot based on the pill bug, which curls up into a ball when threatened. Este roly-poly robot would be equipped with a parachute and launched through a hole in the ceiling of a cave. Upon descending to the cave floor, the robot would release thousands of small biomimetic drones, the “dandelion drones” inside it.

Dandelion drones are designed to be propelled by Marte’s strong winds. Eles would travel for miles inside the tunnels, mapping the entire extent of the system while transmitting data via radio signals. The readings would include humidity, temperature and eventually create a complete map of the tunnel network.

Hassanalian and his team realized that natural dandelion seeds are white because they reflect more sunlight, remaining cooler and lighter. Drones will be painted white for the same reason to travel further. Biomimicry works best on a microscopic scale, as Hassanalian himself recognizes: it’s no wonder that planes don’t flap their wings.

Desafios technicians still no solution

One of the biggest challenges is ensuring there is enough wind to charge the drones. Nenhum man-made object entered a Martian lava tube, so scientists don’t know precisely what the wind speed will be inside the caves. Pesquisadores believe that the holes in the cave ceilings naturally ventilate the tunnels, generating strong winds. Como precaution, the robot is also equipped with a high-power fan.

Outro obstacle is the lack of sunlight. Solar panels, the most common source of power for spacecraft, do not work in complete darkness. Hassanalian solved this by designing the drones to run on piezoelectricity, generated from a flexible polymer that creates electrical charge through mechanical deformation.

Drones also need to continuously transmit data as they fly. Radio transmission works on Marte, but requires enough power in such a small device. The team works to optimize communication systems without compromising the weight of the drones.

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Corrida global for exploration of volcanic tubes

Hassanalian is not the only scientist pursuing this frontier. A group of European researchers, led by Laboratório of Robótica Espacial of Universidade of Málaga, began a series of tests in 2023 on lava tubes found on the island of Lanzarote, in Espanha. Esses testing aims to map tunnel systems in preparation for a possible future mission to Marte.

NASA has also demonstrated aerial exploration capabilities. The Ingenuity helicopter performed 72 flights over the Martian surface, proving the potential of drones in extraterrestrial environments. Porém, Ingenuity was designed to fly outdoors and never had the opportunity to explore lava tubes before its failure in 2024.

NASA-developed drone Planos indicates particular interest in Arsia Mons, a shield volcano in the Tharsis region of Marte. The region contains the largest volcanoes in the solar system, including Olympus Mons — nearly three times taller than Monte Everest. Arsia Mons is especially promising because there are visible holes where the volcanic ceiling collapsed, creating windows into a vast tunnel system.

Why Martian Lava Tubes Matter

Thermal readings of the volcanic holes suggested that the temperature inside the tunnels does not vary as drastically as it does on the surface. Isso raises hopes that human beings could one day live inside these caves. Há also speculates that life native to Marte may have survived within these protected environments.

The Tharsis region alone is the size of the dwarf planet Ceres. Quando this hump formed, added so much mass that Marte is thought to have tilted approximately 20 degrees. The exact reason is debated by scientists, but theories include a massive collision early in Martian history or unstable mantle plumes.

NASA is also looking at possible caves on Lua Titã, Saturno’s largest moon, by selecting Johns Hopkins’s “Dragonfly” spacecraft to explore its surface. Embora Although manned exploration of Marte is not anticipated until the early 2030s, reconnaissance drones could be vital to humanity’s long-term survival on the planet.

Próximos research steps

The Hassanalian team is currently in the design and preliminary testing phase. Engineers are working to refine the dandelion drones’ dispersal system, optimize battery life, and improve data collection sensors. Testes in terrestrial volcanic tubes continue to provide valuable data.

A concrete timeline for the launch of this mission has not yet been established. Porém, the convergence of interest from multiple space agencies NASA, ESA (Agência Espacial Europeia) and research universities indicates that Martian lava tube exploration will move from theoretical concept to operational reality in less than a decade.

Dandelion drones represent a paradigm shift in space exploration. Instead of shipping ever bigger and more complex machines, scientists are moving in the opposite direction: smaller, simpler machines inspired by nature. Essa approach not only solves the practical problems of exploring lava tubes, but opens up possibilities for investigating hostile environments throughout the solar system.