Curiosity Goes Autonomous For the First Time

Posted by Soulskill on Friday August 30, 2013 @04:42AM from the makes-a-break-for-mons-olympus dept.

Zothecula writes "NASA took the metaphorical training wheels off the Mars rover Curiosity on Tuesday, as the unmanned explorer took its first drive using autonomous navigation. It used its onboard cameras and software to select and drive over an area of ground that mission control at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California couldn't see and vet beforehand. This capability allows the nuclear-powered rover to negotiate the most direct route to Mount Sharp rather than having to detour to find routes that can be seen directly by Curiosity before entering, so they can be analyzed by mission control."

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I hope it doesn't encounter any Martian felines by Anonymous Coward · 2013-08-30 04:56 · Score: 5, Funny

Because we all know what Curiosity does to cats.
1. Re:I hope it doesn't encounter any Martian felines by barlevg · 2013-08-30 04:58 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/50702/curiosity-kills-martian-cat/
Hey! by mdsolar · 2013-08-30 05:05 · Score: 4, Funny

Don't drive on my ancestor you nuclear freak!
Re:An Earth Projection? by CreatureComfort · 2013-08-30 06:13 · Score: 4, Funny

Better than a car that slows periodically to take pictures before driving at speed over any perceived walkers.

--
"Unheard of means only it's undreamed of yet,
Impossible means not yet done." ~~ Julia Ecklar