ATHLETE

If we are to settle on other planets in the Solar System, we will need machines for heavy lifting in all manner of environments. NASA is working on such a robot already

1 Multiple limbs

Six identical limbs provide support and manipulation for ATHLETE, giving six degrees of freedom: three motions and three rotations for the wheels and tools at the tips.

2 Central chassis

Constructed as either a single hexagon or two connecting triangles, the central chassis is the base for the six limbs and would carry the cargo or exploration payload.

3 Tools

The flexibility of the limbs means that they can collect a variety of tools and manipulate them like a dedicated robot arm. The tools are powered with the wheel motors.

4 Multiple wheels

Each limb has a wheel and motor at the end. These combine with the limbs to drive the ATHLETE rover in any direction or rotation.

5 Grappling

JPL engineers have even looked at equipping ATHLETE with a grappling system so that it would be able to scale vertical terrain, making it a true go-anywhere robot.

6 Cargo module

Standardised modules would be used for landing supplies or base components on other planets, so the handling robots could always collect whatever payloads arrived.