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Cower In Fear Before the Experimental, Self-Driving "Hedgehog Rover" NASA Wants to Send to an Asteroid

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Cower In Fear Before the Experimental, Self-Driving "Hedgehog Rover" NASA Wants to Send to an Asteroid

This is the hedgehog rover. It operates just as well upside-down as right-side up, is outfitted with spinning spikes on all sides, and can free itself from traps by using a “tornado spin”. There’s only one way to stop it: For the love of God, send it out to an asteroid quickly, NASA!

At present, the hedgehog rover remains here with us on Earth (waiting, plotting), at NASA’s JPL lab where it’s currently undergoing testing. The plan, however, is to send out into the galaxy to explore comets and asteroids, where the traditional wheeled rover would either get stuck or flip-over.

Here it is in action (complete with its rather impressive/terrifying “tornado spin” maneuver.)


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