Robotic Breadcrumbs for Martian Cave Exploration

Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a concept for a flock of robots that can explore subsurface regions on Mars, including caves and lava vents, by following "breadcrumbs" inspired by the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. The robots would be linked by a communications network allowing them to work independently or as a team, all without direction from humans. The system, fittingly named the Breadcrumb-Style Dynamically Deployed Communication Network paradigm (DDCN), enables constant data transmission as each robot in the flock stays in touch with "mother" even in convoluted and complex environments.