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♪

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Exploring Ocean Worlds with
Robots

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[Mechanical sounds]

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Robotics engineers have
prototyped new technology

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for icy ocean worlds.

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Several moons in the
outer solar system

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are believed to
have liquid oceans.

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♪

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If they have liquid water, they
may be able to support life.

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But to acquire samples, robot
visitors will need new tools.

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[crunching sounds]

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Rovers would need special wheels

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to cross ice that
behaves like sand.

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A folding arm could reach up to
33 feet (10 meters)

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for distant samples.

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♪

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For an even longer reach,

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a projectile launcher could
send a sampling mechanism

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[click]

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[slowed down roar]

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up to 164 feet
(50 meters) away.

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It would then be
reeled in on a tether.

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Both the arm and launcher could
use a claw to grab samples.

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Heated prongs would melt in
to secure a grip.

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[grinding]

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allowing a drill to penetrate
the ice.

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[drill sound]

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And that's just on the surface.

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A subsurface probe could contain

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a buzz saw to bore through the
icy crust

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and send samples of ice water
back to the surface

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through pneumatic tubes.

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♪

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The probe could bore for miles.

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These prototypes are just
a starting point.

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Each prototype is now under
review by NASA.

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♪

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If selected for future
development, these robotic tools

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could one day help us explore
the outer solar system.

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These robotic tools were
developed at JPL as part of

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the Ocean Worlds Mobility and
Sesnsing study,

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funded by NASA's Science
Technology Mission Directorate.

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NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory