Mars to be explored by robot swarm: How they will navigate without GPS
New technology will allow robots to explore hazardous areas of Mars (image: RBC-Ukraine)
German scientists are developing a navigation system that will enable autonomous robot swarms to explore Mars without satellite positioning, according to Interesting Engineering.
How will robots navigate Mars without GPS?
Unlike Earth, Mars lacks a network of navigation satellites for spacecraft to determine their location. This complicates the autonomous operation of machines on uneven terrain and their coordination.
A team led by Professor of Satellite Communications and Radar Systems Guido Dietl from the University of Würzburg is working to solve this problem.
Scientists plan to combine several data sources:
- Star and Sun sensor measurements;
- Positioning data from a radio beacon network;
- Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology for precise distance and angle measurements to beacons.
By combining these indicators, robots will be able to independently calculate their coordinates and direction of movement. The development is planned to be implemented gradually and tested during field trials in conditions similar to those on Mars.
Read more: Life may hide beneath Mars' surface as Earth microbes survive extreme conditions
Camera system for swarm coordination
The second research direction is the creation of the SkyCAM camera system, developed by a team led by Professor of Space Technologies Hakan Kayal.
It is designed for the automatic detection of short-term phenomena in the sky, including lightning, cloud formations, and meteors. Currently, the system is being adapted for installation on the Janus rover.
SkyCAM testing is planned during the Austrian Space Forum's AMADEE-27 analog mission in Portugal, scheduled for April 5–18, 2027.
During the tests, scientists aim to deploy 2 or 3 observation stations:
- Cameras will capture the same moving objects from different points.
- Data synchronization will allow calculating the object's distance, speed, and flight trajectory.
- The obtained information will help coordinate the movement of various robots within a shared swarm.
What is known about the VaMEx-ARES project?
The three-year research project VaMEx-ARES launched this October. The work is part of the broader VaMEx initiative, which has been ongoing since 2012 and has now entered its fourth phase of development.
Its main goal is to explore Valles Marineris, a giant canyon system on Mars stretching approximately 3,000 kilometers.
To study this area, researchers plan to use a group of robots of various types: flying, walking, and wheeled. Working together, they will be able to survey complex terrain and explore underground caves inaccessible to conventional rovers.
Scientists emphasize: current technologies are not yet ready for deployment to Mars — first, they must be integrated into robots and tested on Earth.
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