Small in size, but not in capabilities, microrovers may one day play a larger role in exploring other worlds. In partnership with Cornell University, and funded in part by NASA, the Planetary Society is investigating the future role of microrovers in solar system exploration.
We've compiled a catalog of known microrovers that have already been built or designed, ranging in use from military applications to planetary exploration. However, only one rover that has actually visited another world - Sojourner (part of the 1997 Mars Pathfinder mission) - is small enough to be considered a microrover.
Microrovers can help clear bombs, reconnoiter dangerous territory, inspect pipes, or examine rocks on an alien planet. This catalog will serve as a single public location to showcase microrover technology in all its variety, a starting point to see what work has been done before embarking on new design projects.
When is a rover considered "micro"? While there is no precise definition for the size of a microrover, for the purpose of this catalog, the Planetary Society defines them as rovers with a mass of approximately 1 to 12 kilograms. To put it another way, they range is size from MUSES-CN (1 kg) to Sojourner (11.5 kg). However, this list also includes rovers up to 100 kg, both as a basis of comparison and because those larger rovers may still help inspire the design of new planetary microrovers.
| Microrovers Catalog | ||||
| Rover Name | Origin | Mass | Use | Locomotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2WD Differential Robot | Portugal | 10 | Education and Research | Tread |
| 3WD Holonomic Robot | Portugal | 15 | Education and Research | Tread |
| Advanced Whiskers | USA | 10.89 | Education and Research | 2-wheel |
| Anatroller ARE-100 | USA | Platform | 4-wheel or Tread | |
| Anatroller ARI-100 | USA | 6 | Commercial | Tread |
| ARES | USA | Defense | 4-wheel | |
| ART 1 | USA | 18.14 | Defense | Tread |
| Asendro Scout | Germany | 45 | Defense | Tread with Flippers |
| Aurora | USA | 9 | Defense | Monotread |
| Axel | USA | Space Exploration | 2-wheel | |
| Beagle | Australia | Defense and HAZMAT | Tread | |
| BomBot | USA | Defense | 4-wheel | |
| Cameleon EOD | France | 25 | Defense | Tread with Flippers |
| Chaos | USA | 54.43 | Platform | Tread |
| CITV-1 | France | 2.5 | Defense | 4-wheel or Tread |
| CLOME-1 | France | 25 | Commercial | 4-wheel |
| CMAG-1 | France | 1.8 | Commercial | 4-wheel or Tread |
| Cobra MK2 | France | 5.6 | Defense | 4-wheel |
| Create | USA | Platform | ||
| Cyclops Mk4D | UK | 34 | Defense | 4-wheel or Tread |
| Dragon Runner | USA | Defense | 4-wheel or Tread | |
| E-puck | Switzerland | 0.15 | Education and Research | 2-wheel |
| Element | USA | 18.14 | Platform | Tread |
| ExplorBot | USA | 4-wheel or 6-wheel | ||
| EyeDrive | Israel | 2.7 | Defense | 4-wheel |
| Ferret | Australia | Defense | Tread | |
| Foxbot | Germany | Defense | 6-wheel | |
| G2Bot | USA | 11.34 | Defense | Tread |
| GAIA-2 | Canada | 40 | Education and Research | 4-wheel |
| Hannibal and Attila | USA | Space Exploration | ||
| Inbot | France | 2.1 | Defense | 4-wheel |
| Inspection Robot | Denmark | 3 | Commercial | 4-wheel |
| Intruder | USA | 15.87 | Defense | 4-wheel |
| Koala | Canada | 4 | Education and Research | 6-wheel |
| LABO-3 | Canada | 25 | Education and Research | 2-wheel |
| Lector | USA | 3.6 | Defense | 4-wheel |
| Lynchbot | USA | 13 | Defense | |
| M2P2 | USA | 18.14 | Defense | 4-wheel |
| MARCbot | USA | 11.3 | Defense | 4-wheel |
| Matilda II | USA | 27.67 | Platform | Tread |
| MG-400 | Germany | 30 | Commercial | 2-wheel |
| Microinspector | Denmark | 1.5 | Commercial | 4-wheel |
| Microtracs | Canada | 6 (Aluminum), 12 (Brass), 12 (Stainless Steel) | Commercial | Tread |
| Mini-Badger | USA | Commercial | 6-wheel | |
| MK1 – Caliber Scout | Canada | 64 | Defense | 6-wheel |
| MP-S500 | Germany | Platform | 2-wheel | |
| MURV – 100 | USA | 14 | Defense | 10-wheel |
| MUSES-CN | USA | 1.3 | Space Exploration | 4-wheel |
| Nanokhod | European Union | 1.45 | Space Exploration | Tread |
| Negotiator | USA | 15.4 | Defense | Tread with Flippers |
| OTO TRP 1B | Italy | Defense | Tread with Adaptable Structure | |
| OTO TRP2 | Italy | 60 | Defense | Tread |
| OTO TRP3 FROG | Italy | 5.5 | Defense | 4-wheel |
| OTO TRP7 | Italy | Defense | Tread | |
| Packbot | USA | 18.6 | Defense | Tread with Flippers |
| Pandora | USA | 27.22 | Defense | Tread or Wheel |
| Pebbles Mars Rover | USA | Space Exploration | Tread | |
| PIONEER P3-DX | USA | 9 | Education and Research | 4-wheel |
| Piper the Robot | USA | 10 | Commercial | 4-wheel |
| Pointman | USA | 8.16 | Defense | 4-wheel |
| PRM | France | 26 | Defense | Tread |
| Radcam 35 | USA | 7.26 | Commercial | 4-wheel |
| Ranger | USA | 24.95 | Defense | Tread |
| Raposa | Portugal | 27 | Commercial | Tread |
| RATLER | USA | Space Exploration and Defense | 4-wheel | |
| Recon Scout | USA | 0.544 | Defense | 2-wheel |
| Recon Scout XT | USA | 0.524 | Defense | 2-wheel |
| RMP 200 ATV | USA | 71 | Platform | 2-wheel |
| Robohaz 6-Wheel | Korea | 40 | Defense, Education and Research | 6-wheel |
| Robohaz DT3 | Korea | 39 | Defense, Education and Research | Tread |
| Robohaz Rescue | Korea | 45 | Defense, Education and Research | Tread |
| Robomow | Israel | 22.68 | Commercial | 2-wheel |
| Robson | France | 4-wheel | ||
| Robulab 10 | France | 20 | Platform | 3-wheel |
| Rocky7 | USA | 11.5 | Space Exploration | 6-wheel |
| ROID 102 | UK | 15 | Commercial | Tread |
| Scorpion | USA | 18.14 | Platform | Tread |
| Scout | Poland | 13 | Defense | Tread and 4-Wheel (Wheels can be removed |
| SECT II | Canada | 5.4 | Education and Research | 8-wheel |
| Sentry | Australia | Defense | Tread | |
| Shrimp III | Switzerland | 5.4 | Platform | 6-wheel |
| SmartTrakk | USA | 49.8 | Terrestrial Exploration | Tread |
| SMC Rover | Japan | Space Exploration | Modular wheel system | |
| Sojourner | USA | 11.5 | Space Exploration | 6-wheel |
| Souryu II | Japan | Defense | Tread | |
| Spector | USA | 7.94 | Defense | Wheel |
| SPIDAR | USA | 12.25 | Defense | 6-wheel |
| Spiker | Australia | Defense | Tread or Wheels | |
| SRR | USA | Space Exploration | 4-wheel | |
| SUGV 300 Series | USA | 11.3 | Defense | Tread with Flippers |
| SUSS | USA | 3.175 | Defense | 4-wheel |
| TALON (Multiple Configurations) | USA | 52 | Defense | Tracked |
| Titan | USA | Commercial | 4-wheel | |
| Titan-IX | Japan | Defense | Walking (4 legs) | |
| Tri-star II | Japan | Space Exploration | 3-wheel | |
| u-Trooper | USA | 6 | Platform | 6-wheel |
| URBOT | USA | 29 | Defense | Tread |
| Vanguard | European Union | 26 | Space Exploration | Tread |
| Vanguard ROV | Canada | 56 | Defense | Tread |
| Versatrax 100 | Canada | 9 | Commercial | Tread |
| VGTV | Canada | 6.2 | Commercial | Tread with Adaptable Structure |
| VIPeR | Israel | 11.3 | Defense | Tread |
| Whiskers | USA | Education and Research | 2-wheel | |
| Wifibot 4G | USA | 4.5 | Education and Research | 4-wheel |
| Wifibot-SC | USA | 4.5 | Education and Research | 4-wheel |
| X-Bot | USA | 10 | Defense | 4-wheel |
| X-MUTS | Australia | Defense | 4-wheel | |
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