NASA worked with the car industry in order to develop its latest engineering marvel, an advanced electric rover called the Modular Robotic Vehicle prototype.
The battery-powered vehicle features four liquid-cooled wheel motors, remote control capabilities, and dynamic driver feedback.
The golf-cart-sized MRV’s four separate wheel modules are capable of turning completely independently of each other, making for an extremely durable and agile electric buggy.
Its unique wheel system allows the vehicle to drift easily, not to mention the fact the MRV can be controlled remotely, a potentially huge benefit for astronauts who may one day utilize the buggy on another planet.
The video below shows how easily and smoothly the MRV whips around on Earth, a luxury it likely will not have should the vehicle ever be deployed on Mars.
However, for the time being, we should enjoy watching technology advance as the MRV could very well be the inspiration for a whole generation of all-new electric vehicles on this planet.
