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Journalism of Courage
Robotic rovers have patrolled deep space and the deepest seas, but scientists are still struggling to create drones that can overcome the multiple challenges of exploring Antarctica.
Georgia Tech researchers think the SnoMote 8212; a small robot designed like a snowmobile 8212; will be able to deal with the nasty weather and with slippery terrain that constantly cracks and shifts.
They envision dozens of SnoMotes roving Antarctica8217;s vast expanses to add to data already collected by satellites and a handful of weather stations and sensors. Ayanna Howard, an associate professor at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, has worked for two years under a NASA grant to perfect the 2-foot-long robots. Her initial designs with spider-like legs proved too cumbersome to navigate snowbanks. So she and her colleagues leaned on others8217; designs, outfitting a snowmobile designed for kids with sensors, gauges and cameras and then programming it. She developed a program that lets the SnoMotes negotiate with each other and 8220;bid8221; on which site to investigate, allowing them to decide for themselves how to dole out their assignments.
