[X] My Assistant

[chris]

Given the problems that Opportunity is having now, what changes should be made to future rovers to mitigate such problems? Sand isn't exactly rare on Mars, and I very much doubt we've seen the biggest dunes.

Some suggestions:

- Directly detect speed so you know when you're not travelling as fast as the wheels are rotating (using something like an optical mouse sensor, as suggested here by Gary).

- Change of wheel design.

- Some deployable mechanism to help back out of a bad spot (extending spikes in the wheels might do it, but it would be complicated). I am also reminded of the railway sleepers that WW1 tanks used, although I'm obviously not suggesting we send a railway sleeper

- Sensors on the wheel or wheel hubs so you can sense you are digging in. Given the amount of iron around, could this be done magnetically?

- Some mechanism for sensing sand traps. Sound springs to mind, but I guess the atmosphere is too thin.

Chris

Edit: Added link to mouse sensor post

[RNeuhaus]

The another hint would be helpful for Opps to travel is when it is free again and be able to navigate through dunes of sand on the same direction as where the winds blows. That is the rover must travel over crest in perpendicular line since the start of crest is harder (where the wind blows first on the crest) and the other side of crest is softer (where the wind accumulate sand). Going on that way, Opps will climb easier than the other side of crest which is of downslide. That hint is good for Earth sands and I think it will be also good for Mars' sands.