Exploring Mars Using a Group of Tumbleweed Rovers

Current Mars exploration and science is limited to orbiters and areas close to original rover landing sites. Most of the places of geological interest lay many kilometers outside of suitable landing sites. In-situ resources such as wind can enable rovers to travel great distances on Mars while using little internal power. In this paper, a dynamic model of an individual wind driven rover is used to enhance a stochastic simulation of multiple rovers traversing the Martian environment. The results from this simulation support the claim that a group of rovers equipped with minimal control mechanisms or internal energy sources can autonomously disperse and explore Mars.