‘Roly-poly’ robot and tiny drones could soon unlock hidden secrets of Martian lava tubes

Researchers are developing a biomimetic Mars exploration system centered on a spherical “mother” robot and tiny seed-like drones.

The robot would enter Martian lava tubes through skylights and release wind-dispersed drones to map the caves and measure conditions.

The concept could help identify lava tubes that may offer radiation shielding, stable temperatures, and signs of ice or past life.

Because conventional rovers cannot easily access these subsurface spaces, the team is testing the idea in volcanic caves on Earth.