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In an uncertain environment like the surface of Mars, the challenges posed on a network of rechargeable sensors are dissimilar to the ones faced in partially known or predictable environmental settings. In threatening situations like attack from hostile inhabitants, flooding of a water resource, etc., the sensors would need to relocate themselves in a short time to a different location to escape damage. This calls for different design considerations to enable better mobility in the sensors. The chief considerations in this case is to have lighter sensor units to enable higher speed of the sensor units, and quicker communication among sensors in the network as one sensor spotting a hazard needs to send the information to other sensors for them to take action. In this talk we present our research on the problem addressing building lighter sensor units and the entire vehicle by reducing the mass of the electrical machines (specifically motors) in the sensor units and the vehicle. We further compare communication modes to ascertain the mode that enables faster communication. Host: Garrett Kenyon, P-21 |