Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor: NASA
NASA, is developing a snake-like robot known as Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) which it says can boost space exploration through its diverse adaptability to various terrains.
- Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) is a mobile instrument platform conceived to explore internal terrain structures, assess habitability and ultimately search for evidence of life.
- It is designed to be adaptable to traverse ocean-world-inspired terrain, fluidized media, enclosed labyrinthian environments and liquids.
- It is a snake-like robot that that can move through rough terrain.
- Its purpose is to examine the surface of Saturn’s moon and determine whether life is present.
- EELS allows for deeper exploration into areas that were once unattainable.
- It is made of multiple, identical, segments containing both the actuation and propulsion mechanisms as well as the power and communication electronics to drive them.
- EELS uses first-of-a-kind rotating propulsion units that act as tracks, gripping mechanisms and propeller units underwater, enabling the robot to access a plume vent exit and follow it to its ocean source.
