Russian scientists develop a prototype robot to explore Venus

Scientists at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University have developed a prototype robot for exploring Venus. The task was not easy, as the planet has harsh climatic conditions: high temperature and pressure, and an acidic environment. All this has a bad effect on the mechanisms, causing the vehicles to be destroyed in the first minutes after landing.

"After analysing various designs, we decided that the best thing to do was to make an inertial vehicle, that is, a planetary vehicle that moves due to the movement of internal masses. It is an airtight sphere. Scientific equipment is inside it. A sphere is the best form to exist in a high-pressure environment. It can be propelled by an internal moving mass," says Georgy Scheglov, First Deputy Head of the Department of Aerospace Systems at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University.

To propel the sphere, scientists use a pneumatic actuator with compressed gas. Similar spherical research stations have been sent to Venus before, but whereas before they were always stationary on the planet's surface, they will now be able to move in the right direction.

The body will move without moving external parts. It is important to note that the "Venereohod" (Venus walker) project was originally conceived by students of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, and later robotics specialists assembled the first prototype engine using the scientists' materials.

The vehicle moves by leaps and bounds - in this mode, the robot will be able to pass about 500 metres across the surface of Venus. This means scientists will be able to obtain data on the composition and elasticity of the planet's soil, scan the effect of temperatures on the object and take video footage. But apart from interplanetary exploration, the Venus walker can also be used on Earth.

"In harsh environments, where it is difficult to make a mechanism with moving parts, our robot could prove useful. In the depths of the ocean, for example. Yes, there are bathyscaphes, but where there may be some aggressive environment - near underwater volcanoes, for example - we can work quite well," said Scheglov.

Developers of the 'Venerohod' are moving on from the mathematical modelling phase to physical prototypes. The experts plan to unveil the first working model soon.

Photo: TV BRICS