Post by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Name: JPL engineers are leading the way toward faster, smarter exploration of the Moon and Mars, putting a
Uploaded: 2026-06-19T00:38:02.816Z
Channel: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Description: JPL engineers are leading the way toward faster, smarter exploration of the Moon and Mars, putting a new robotic testbed through its paces. ERNEST (Exploration Rover for Navigating Extreme Sloped Te

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JPL engineers are leading the way toward faster, smarter exploration of the Moon and Mars, putting a new robotic testbed through its paces. ERNEST (Exploration Rover for Navigating Extreme Sloped Terrain) is just 4 feet (1.2 meters) long. Not only can it lift each of its mesh wheels to get past obstacles that would stymie Curiosity and Perseverance, NASA’s six-wheeled Mars rovers, but the prototype also has enhanced independent decision-making capabilities. “This testing is helping us refine the mobility hardware and autonomy software to navigate extreme distances across a wide range of terrain and lighting conditions anticipated on the Moon,” said JPL’s Issa Nesnas, who led recent testing as head of autonomy for a NASA mission concept for a potential future long-range lunar rover. https://lnkd.in/gdKZAA5A

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