The NASA InSight lander was designed to examine the interior of Mars. The InSight lander originally began working on February, and it is now able to dig due to a strategy change by NASA. The arm of the robot was originally unable to dig because of the rough terrain. NASA's new strategy allowed the InSight lander to dig by placing the arm against the probe, which increases the friction to the point where the lander can dig.
NASA’s new plan still has the lander operating at a slow pace. The lander began to dig on October 8th, and it has dug almost an inch. The lander is attempting to dig to a depth of 16 feet, so the project will take a lengthy amount of time.
Image Credit: NASA/ JPL-Caltech via AP
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Mars Exploration
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop more advanced robotic diggers for efficient and faster Mars exploration.
- Friction-enhancing Technology
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create friction-enhancing technology that can be used for various applications beyond spacecraft digging missions.
- Slow-paced Digger Operations
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design and implement autonomous or remotely operated diggers with faster digging capabilities.
Sectors Adopting This
- Space Exploration
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop cutting-edge technologies for space missions, including improved landers and exploration tools.
- Robotics
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Advance robotic systems for various industries, leveraging expertise gained from Mars digging missions.
- Materials and Engineering
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Innovate new materials and equipment for digging and excavation applications in challenging environments.
