SKIRMISHER

The Robotic Institute of Carnegie Mellon University is building a lunar robotic prospector for NASA called “Scarab.” But don’t let the word “lunar” fool you — the four-wheeled robot is not supposed to leave Earth, but instead will merely serve to “demonstrate technologies that a lunar rover will need to find concentrations of hydrogen, possibly water and other volatile chemicals on the moon that could be mined to produce fuel, water and air that are essential for supporting lunar outposts.”

Simply put, the Scarab will be some sort of a simulation thing. Nevertheless, it carries sophisticated technology any lunar prospecting team is supposed to need to manage the moon’s hostile environment. Although it is not very fast, it is agile and can operate (drilling is its game) for months in total darkness.

For more of this single-minded hole-making, 550-pound toy wonder who loves operating in the dark (this sounds like a description of a guy who wants to get laid), click here.

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