Bee-like Mini Robots May Be The Key to Exploring Mars

Human beings are relentless in the search for extraterrestrial life, even though we've been conditioned to fear alien invasion since H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds. Nevertheless the search continues, and advances in technology could make it possible to explore every nook and cranny of the universe.

NASA's exploration of Mars has lead to incredible discoveries, most important of which has been of the traces of methane in the atmosphere that suggest either geological or biological activity going on beneath the seemingly dead surface. Of particular interest are the Seven Sisters, seven large gaping holes in the surface which could be havens for past or present life forms. Unfortunately, the rovers sent to the surface couldn't enter them.

Aron Kisdi, an engineer at the University of Southampton in the U.K., has thought of a solution to that problem. Kisdi has proposed the use of miniature swarming robots programmed to maneuver like honeybees, which could explore the Seven Sisters, recording temperatures and co-ordinates of sites where life might be lurking.

Insect-inspired robots have already been tested closer to home: Swarming Micro Air Vehicle Network (SMAVNET), is a swarm of flying robots developed in Switzerland to aid rescuers in disaster areas, whose behaviour is modelled on army ants.

It will be a while before human-built insect-robots are crawling all over Mars though, according to Kisdi the availability of enough energy to power them on long missions is a major challenge.