The European space Agency for the second week is testing a small copy of the new Mars Rover of the ExoMars program, which will go to the red planet in 2018. The obtained photographs, we have an opportunity to look at how it will look next Rover.

Tests of the new robot are at the test site, measuring 80 by 50 meters, imitating the surface structure of Mars. Ran the Mars Rover team, located in the Netherlands. At this time the Rover was in France. Scientists checked how the Rover can leave the lander after arriving on the Red planet. The official site of the European space Agency explains how tests were conducted:
«With each new test the test team had no idea where a test platform is the Mars Yard Rover. The only information they possessed was received from cameras and sensors mounted on the Rover and the lander. The complexity of the remote control added that it was not in real time. In reality, the distance between Mars and Earth is too large to make this method of management was effective. Instead, the team was able to receive telemetry data at certain time intervals, and then sent to the Rover the command to execute».
«Since this test, telemetry data were transmitted every hour. In reality, they will be transmitted only twice a day. Each new task was initially modeled in the form of a virtual model of the environment of the Rover, and then were compared with panoramic images from various cameras installed on the Rover».

«The lander is equipped with two sets of ramps which the Rover will have to move out, to finally be on the surface of Mars. A team of engineers in the tests were decided which side it will be better and safer to do.»

Out of five tests, four were successful. One failed — the Rover fell off the ramp. However, for the first such testing, the rate of successful attempts is very good.

Source: allcompanies.website