Visit to the Laboratory of Robotics and Planetary Exploration. Center of Astrobiology. INTA. (Madrid-Spain)

Alejandro Alonso Puig visited the Laboratory of Robotics and Planetary Exploration from the Center of Astobiology (CAB), belonging to the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA).

The PhD. Javier Gómez Elvira, Assistant director of the Center of Astrobiology showed some projects in which the Center is working in the area of Robotics.

From Left to right: PhD. Javier Gómez Elvira, Alejandro Alonso Puig
and the robot "PTinto" being developed at CAB

One of those project is "PTinto", which goal is to develop a remotely controlled hexapod robot for the in deep study of the Tinto river (Huelva-Spain), with a set of tools to analize different aspects of the river. 

The Center of Astrobiology considers the study of Tinto river as key for the planetary exploration. This river has been chosen as a unique case that could help to understand the start of life, mainly in Mars.  

Robot PTinto from CAB. 

The Project "Snorkel" supports the creation of an underwater robot with the same name as the project. Snorkel is a robot developed for the exploration and analysis of the Tinto river. Its structure, based on aeronautical aluminum, support high concentrations of acid in the water. 

Underwater robot  Snorkel 

In the following pictures we could see different images of the robot, during a period of internal revision.

The Center of Astrobiology works in association with the NASA Institute of Astrobiology,  for the design and development of robots, communication systems and different tools for the search of life in other planets.

Model of the Sojourner robot for the exploration of Mars