Overview
- Researchers at the University of Würzburg with partners in Bremen have translated the sandfish lizard’s subsurface swimming motion into a novel rover wheel design this week that aims to move through loose sand rather than simply roll across it.
- Field and sand tests produced sinusoidal tracks in the substrate, which the team cites as direct evidence that the wheels engage the sand in a swimming‑style interaction instead of conventional rolling.
- Early prototypes were heavy and narrow, which raised ground pressure, increased sinkage and coupled slip with loss of steering, so the team redesigned the wheels to be wider and lighter to lower ground pressure and gain stability.
- The project, carried out under DLR’s VaMEx initiative, is now shifting to software and autonomy work so the vehicle can detect slip and sinkage and adjust steering and gait in real time, though the researchers have not released quantitative performance metrics such as speed, energy use or endurance.
- Teams note potential uses beyond Mars for travel over deserts or disaster rubble, and researchers say further surface refinements and benchmark testing are needed before the concept can be validated for mission use.