Robots to Seek Shelter in Space for Astronauts, No Need to Construct Buildings in Mars

There is a new development from researchers centering on deploying robots on different planets that astronauts would soon explore, and their main task is to seek shelter for their human companions. The quest for shelter centers on delivering pods or constructing new structures in different locations, for example on Mars, where initial plans were to create a colony.

The researchers suggest that they no longer need to exhaust their efforts on these, as robots would find them a viable shelter that would shield them from cosmic radiation and be safe from harm.

Robots Developed to Seek Shelter on Mars, Different Planets

The University of Arizona engineers have developed a new robot that centers on searching different planets and space locations, including the neighbor planet, Mars, for possible places astronauts will live in. According to the team's latest release, these robots would look into underground habitats, caves, lava tubes, and more to search for viable shelters.

"Lava tubes and caves would make perfect habitats for astronauts because you don't have to build a structure; you are shielded from harmful cosmic radiation, so all you need to do is make it pretty and cozy," said Associate Professor Wolfgang Fink, from UArizona.

The goal is to give astronauts a place to settle in for their mission, without needing to construct structures for their stay. It would also help in giving them immediate shelter for their needs.

Hansel and Gretel-style Breadcrumb Hunting for the Bots

The team published their research in the Science Direct publication, detailing that these bots would also center on "breadcrumb" style hunting to find their way back. They claim that this is inspired by the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel.

"In our scenario, the 'breadcrumbs' are miniaturized sensors that piggyback on the rovers, which deploy the sensors as they traverse a cave or other subsurface environment."

Mars Colony and Shelter Plans

Going camping on mountains or in different locations would first include a hike, and for people looking to spend the night or afternoon, they would then look for their preferred spot to lay their ground and tent. This is the same thing for probing new locations in space, as initial plans for visiting other planets include establishing headquarters for astronauts to recuperate in, the new location.

There are many studies behind what would work for Mars, and researchers are already factoring in the heavy iron, nickel, and sulfur presence in its atmosphere and ground.

One of the most significant companies to put their efforts towards building a Mars colony is Elon Musk's SpaceX, one where the CEO and co-founder are also heavily invested in being its ruler. The plan is to create the 'Mars Base Alpha' in this decade, with Starship bringing them to the neighboring planet.

Plans in seeking shelter are among the top priorities when landing on new locations, and this takes a significant amount of research and planning to harbor human life on different planets. This new study by the University of Arizona presents a new way of looking for a place to live, giving astronauts an easier time in doing so.