Swiss researchers test robot dog designed to speed up Moon and Mars exploration

University of Basel researchers tested the ANYmal quadruped in a Mars-like facility, where it autonomously chose rocks, analyzed them, and reported findings.

The robot completed the mission faster than a human operator, though with slightly lower accuracy.

The work points to semi-autonomous legged robots as a way to speed up planetary science and reach rough terrain that wheeled rovers may miss.

Published in Frontiers in Space Technologies, the study highlights potential uses for Mars and Moon exploration, including rock and biosignature searches.