New Delhi:
Scientists have been designing several space exploration vehicles for years to move those across the slopes of the moon and lunar rover is one of them.
Ahead of a future mission to moon the German Aerospace Centre has recently conducted a lunar robot test on the surface of Mount Etna, in Sicily.
Though the picture of the running wheel across the rocky landscape seems to be a surface of some imaginary distant planet, Mount Etna is happened to be the most active volcano of Europe.
Besides the test of this three-foot high and four-wheeled lunar robot, a group of experts were there to improve the robotic equipment for a significant furure use in space.
The research of Robotic Exploration of Extreme Environments (ROBEX) was also a part of this latest programme by the German agency.
Talking about their latest study Boris Behncke, a volcanologist from the National Vulcanology Institute in Catania said, "This is aimed at simulating a future, hypothetical landing mission on the moon or Mars and they use a lot of robots which are there to transport and install different instruments."
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Moreover, the rover will be further used to explore the depths of Mount Etna and relay back useful technical data on seismic movement.
The invention or studies conducted on Etna are also expected to be deployed by the scientists in the exploration of Mars.
Earlier, another robotic test took place on the Piano del Lago area of the volcano which is a desolate stretch of terrain buffeted by strong winds.
Scientists also hope to mount a network of equipment including rover robots and drones which will help monitoring seismic activity that are expected to use in lunar mission.
