Desert-lizard inspired rover wheels enable sand-swimming on Mars

German VaMEx researchers are developing a Mars-exploration rover system with curved, desert-lizard-inspired wheels that can 'swim' through sandy terrain, testing stability on dunes and open ground. The effort, led by the University of Würzburg with the German Space Agency (DLR) Bremen and the University of Bremen, aims to create autonomous, heterogeneous robot swarms to explore Valles Marineris on Mars. While tests show stable sand mobility and the generation of sinusoidal tracks, researchers note the need for software-driven control refinements to manage slippage and sinking, advancing mobility for future robotic (and crewed) Mars missions.