NASA plans to build some mini underwater robots

NASA plans to build a fleet of mini swimming robots that could scour the oceans of other planets in search of aliens.

A NASA expert has floated the idea of an ice-melting probe that could send a large number of robots the size of cell phones into deep water.

Such a plan could be used to sniff out signs of alien life beneath the miles-thick icy crust of Jupiter's moon Europa or Saturn's moon Enceladus.

"My idea was, where can we take micro-robots and apply them in interesting new ways to explore our solar system? NASA engineer Ethan Schaler explains.

"With a fleet of small swimming robots, we were able to explore larger volumes of seawater and improve our measurements by having multiple robots collect data in the same area."

The field project is aptly named SWIM -- or Sensing With Independent micro-swimers.

After securing funding, a team will begin building prototypes within the next two years.

They plan to build wedge-shaped robots that are about five inches long and three to five cubic inches in volume.

Nearly 50 will be loaded into a frozen robot that can "cluster" together like fish to look for clues.

The main ship will mainly carry kits to collect data during the long journey through thick ice.

It can then pass the information to a ground-based lander for study by experts on Earth.

"What if, after all these years of entering the ocean, you go through the ice crust and end up in the wrong place?" "SWIM team scientist Samuel Howell said.

"What if there are signs of life there, but there are no signs of life where you went into the ocean?

"By carrying these robotic crowds, we will be able to see 'there' and explore more of the environment than a single cryobot would allow."

Since the idea is still in early testing, the robots have not yet been attached to any tasks.

But clearly, NASA is keen to answer one of humanity's greatest mysteries.

NASA wants to build a fleet of small submersible robots to search for aliens in the oceans of other planets, according to the United Nations Office on July 2.

A NASA expert has floated the idea of building a probe that could melt ice on the surface of other planets, and sending a swarm of robots the size of mobile phones underwater. Such plans could be used to detect signs of alien life beneath the ice of Jupiter's moon Europa or Saturn's moon Enceladus.

My thought was, where can we apply micro-robots and explore our solar system in interesting new ways?" NASA engineer Ethan Schaler explains.

"With a fleet of small submersible robots, we are able to explore a larger area of water and improve the level of detection by having multiple robots collecting data in the same area."

The project is called SWIM. After securing funding, the team will begin building a prototype within the next two years. They plan to build a fleet of wedge-shaped robots each measuring less than 100 cubic centimeters.

Nearly 50 small robots can "swarm" together like fish looking for clues. In addition to small robots, the probe will carry equipment to collect data on its long journey through the thick ice on its surface.

The probe can then pass the information to a ground-based lander on the planet for study by experts back on Earth.

"What happens if, years later, you go through the ice crust in the wrong place?" "Said Samuel Howell, a project scientist at SWIM. "What if there were signs of life in the ocean, but not where you went into it?" "By carrying these robots, we will be able to see more places and explore more environments than a small robot could ever do."

To be clear, the idea is still in early testing, and the robot hasn't been involved in any missions yet.