Researchers in Germany are developing a navigation system that could help autonomous robot swarms explore Mars without relying on satellite-based positioning. The technology will combine star and Sun sensors with a network of radio beacons, allowing robots to determine their location and direction across the Red Planet’s difficult terrain.
The work is part of VaMEx-ARES, a new three-year research project involving the University of Würzburg. The German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has awarded around $1.54 million to two research teams at the university for the work, which began in October 2026.
The project forms part of the wider VaMEx initiative, which aims to explore Valles Marineris, a vast canyon system stretching approximately 1864 miles across Mars. Its proposed robotic swarm would include flying, walking and wheeled machines working together to investigate the region, including caves that may exist beneath its surface.
Unlike Earth, Mars does not have a network of navigation satellites that robots can use to establish their positions. This makes autonomous exploration particularly challenging, especially when machines need to operate across uneven terrain and coordinate with one another.
Guido Dietl, a professor of satellite communication and radar systems at the University of Würzburg, is leading work on a navigation system to address this problem.
His team plans to combine measurements from star and Sun sensors with positioning data collected through a network of radio beacons. The system will use ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to measure distances and angles to the beacons.
By combining these measurements, the robots should be able to calculate their positions and travel directions independently.
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