NASA unveils ERNEST rover after 37-hour Colorado desert test
Technology
NASA just showed off ERNEST, a new rover built to handle the toughest spots on the moon and Mars.
In a recent 37-hour test in the Colorado desert, this little robot covered 26km all by itself, faster than NASA's current rovers like Perseverance.
ERNEST is designed to go where other rovers can't, opening up more of these worlds for exploration.
Compact 4-foot rover makes autonomous decisions
ERNEST is compact (just about 4 feet long) but packed with cool tech: steerable wheels, powered joints, and a suspension system that lets it climb over rocks or "walk" across rough ground.
It uses AI to make smart decisions on its own, even at night or in tricky conditions.
If all goes well, future versions could be even bigger and bolder, helping NASA reach places we've never explored before.