A couple of Mars anomalous looking features in the same Rover Opportunity photo - Sol day 4738 - rather unnatural looking - any possibility these could be Rover related??
What do you think! :D
https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/4738/1P548808340EFFCZH5P2434R2M1.HTML
(https://s18.postimg.org/gsy5jopt5/Mars_Rover_O_-_Sol_4738.jpg)
Those look like the marks the rover makes on the ground, but it's strange to see two separate tracks.
If they disappear over a dune's ridge then maybe the rover climbed the dune first by following the right (for us) track, then returned the same way and climbed by the other track.
Good observation, ArMaP, but how did the Rover get to the circled tracks, as they appear to 'start' in that circle with no sign of a turnaround?
Quote from: ArMaP on May 24, 2017, 10:15:28 PM
Those look like the marks the rover makes on the ground, but it's strange to see two separate tracks.
If they disappear over a dune's ridge then maybe the rover climbed the dune first by following the right (for us) track, then returned the same way and climbed by the other track.
Probably could be that for sure ArMaP! Well, for me, the only thing on this image that brings to mind "rover tracks" is...there are parallel features with length. What would cause the track features to appear to be raised instead of pressed into the ground? The "raised" feature is what made it not look like a track to me.
For comparison, here is a Rover photo of its track from a few days earlier.
(https://s7.postimg.org/mur80xvnv/Screen_Shot_2017-05-24_at_4.34.04_PM.jpg)
It appears that the rover entered the photo from bottom left, traveling towards top right; the tracks appearing raised is due to the incedence and light angle on the tracks; if you zoom in you can see where it went over the edge of the ridge and tried to traverse back over from top right towards lower left, stopped due to the depth of the soil (appears to have been sinking and slipping quite a bit}
before reversing direction and backing down over the ridge...
but that is just what I see...
Seeker
Ever see a quad in the loose sand? The electric motors would probably have a lot of torque.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBwTwTepCwk
Quote from: Ellirium113 on May 24, 2017, 11:14:19 PM
Ever see a quad in the loose sand? The electric motors would probably have a lot of torque.
Not near as much torque as you would think; watched a very informative vid on the next generation of rovers they are developing recently,and loose material on more than a 30 degree slope is tough going for them 8)
Quote from: thorfourwinds on May 24, 2017, 10:44:24 PM
Good observation, ArMaP, but how did the Rover get to the circled tracks, as they appear to 'start' in that circle with no sign of a turnaround?
The Rover rarely turns around, moving backwards is faster, and as the Rover's front and back are functionally the same it doesn't make a difference.
I don't remember if it was Spirit or Opportunity that, when one wheel got jammed, stopped moving forward and started moving only backwards, and did it for a long time.
Quote from: rdunk on May 24, 2017, 10:54:01 PM
What would cause the track features to appear to be raised instead of pressed into the ground? The "raised" feature is what made it not look like a track to me.
They don't look raised to me, only the sides of the tracks appear raised in comparison with the track itself, specially the left side of the tracks on the right, those made on what appears to be loose sand.
Quote from: Ellirium113 on May 24, 2017, 11:14:19 PM
Ever see a quad in the loose sand? The electric motors would probably have a lot of torque.
Even with a lot of torque they don't turn fast enough to move enough dirt to make the rover move. Also (and that was the problem with Spirit), as the rovers are not that high, if the wheels dig too deep in the ground the rover's "belly" touches the ground and the wheels lose traction.
And don't forget that that loose sand is extremely fine, like cement powder.