Introduction: Observations made by the Opportunity rover during its traverse south from Eagle crater show that the hematite bearing plains are an aeolian lag deposit consisting of hematite spherules and basal-tic sand, along with a nanophase iron oxide bearing dust component, that has been worked into ripples [1,2,3]. The hematite spherules, which have weathered out of the sulfate rich outcrop ...

Rover localization accuracy is critical for Mars surface exploration missions. It is especially crucial for future longrange rover missions, such as MER (Mars Exploration Rover) 2003. The geometry of the rover image traverse network is one of the most important factors to achieving high accuracy. A systematic study of geometric image traverse design was carried out. Several traverses of side lo...

This paper explores the process of adaptation to new methods in a simple model where the growth rate of labour supply is exogenously given and constant. It shows that competition for a primary input in short supply changes the mechanism of adaptation and its consequences: If surplus labour exists, differential capacity accumulation effectuates adaptation and leads to a logistic replacement patt...

Mobile robots need to navigate in their environment in order to perform useful tasks. Doors appear in almost every office-like indoor environment and they have to be crossed often during the navigation process. We present in this paper a new approach that uses visual information to anticipate that a door has to be crossed. Combining then visual information with ultrasonic sensors, the robot app...

Using a newly developed vibrating electrode, we have explored the electric fields around lily pollen germinating in vitro. From these field measurements, we infer that each weeted pollen drives a steady current of a few hundred picoamperes through itself. Considered as a flow of positive ions, this current enters an ungerminated grain's prospective growth site and leaves it opposite end. Aft...