Robot-Bees on Mars
That freaking moment when Black Mirror episodes come to life. For those who haven’t seen it, there was an episode with robotic bees (the only difference is that in the Netflix series natural bees were extinct and robobees saved the day, or so people thought).
NASA and some smart guys from the University of Alabama in Huntsville have decided that it would be a great idea to send swarms of robotic bees to Mars. Don’t know about you, but my first thought was: “So the fuckers do have such technologies which let you get little flying spy with the size of a bumblebee..”.
Anyhow, we all believe in the spotless scientific intentions (eh, no). The bees have the banalest name: Marsbees. and you wouldn’t even guess why. Because they are fucking bees from Mars. How Ross Geller’s style is this.
The bees won’t be totally autonomous. Their efficacy would surpass by a long shot that of what has previously been sent to the planet – Landers and Rovers.
These devices, despite their ability to withstand high pressure and cosmic rays, are exceedingly large and offer a skewed perspective over the terrain when reconnoitring it. Making sure mankind sees even more red sands and of course dead Opportunity- the long-living robot, who sang to himself happy birthday song 15 years straight. Don’t feel so pathetic for being single anymore, do you?
Marsbees, which as flapping wing aerospace architectures would fly about much in the fashion of a swarm. Their sensors would offer a much more precise view of the planet’s surface and, in case one little robot malfunctions or breaks down, the rest of the team members would be able to keep doing their job unencumbered.
Besides, each Marsbee could –given the circumstances- function independently; these robots’ extensive wings allow, as well, for accommodating the ever-changing Martian atmosphere.
This project is at this stage just preliminary work, but shortly these prototypes will be tested out in vacuum chambers where a low-density atmosphere will allow for measuring their aerodynamic performance.
Just in case beware any unusually big bees, who try to fly beside you. Maybe you won’t need to fly to Mars to meet a Marsbee. Who knows, right?
