FUTURE generations of planetary rovers could leave today’s vehicles trailing in the dust, thanks to the revival of an idea that pre-dates the space age by a quarter of a century. But despite its benefits, many experts at NASA have never heard of the revolutionary design.
According to a team from Kingston University, London, the elastic loop mobility system (ELMS) should be lighter and more agile than its competitors. And because it has few moving parts, it should be reliable enough to handle remote missions.
ELMS was patented in 1933 by a British inventor, one J. G. K. Kitchens. The…
