NASA's Curiosity rover receives major software update; can now drive faster on Mars

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover will now be able to drive faster and reduce wear and tear on its wheels, thanks to a major software update that was recently installed on the rover.

These are just two of about 180 changes implemented during this software update, which was completed on April 7. Curiosity's science and imaging operations were put on hold between April 3 and April 7.

This major update has enhanced Curiosity's navigational capabilities, allowing it to "think while driving" and autonomously navigate its way across the harsh Martian terrain. This update brings the rover's capabilities more in line with those of NASA's Perseverance rover, which uses a similar technique to navigate around the rocks and sand traps.

Unlike Perseverance, which uses a dedicated computer for autonomous navigation, Curiosity drives in segments and stops to process imagery of the terrain after each segment, which causes delays and requires the rover to start and stop repeatedly during long drives. However, with the new software update, Curiosity can process images faster, allowing it to spend more time on the move, according to NASA.

"The flight software is essential to our mission, so this is a big deal for our team. This is a major software update, and we had to make sure we did it right," said Curiosity Project Manager Kathya Zamora-Garcia of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

The update not only enhances Curiosity's navigational capabilities but also introduces two new mobility commands that reduce the amount of steering required when driving in an arc towards a specific waypoint, allowing it to reach its target quicker and decreasing the wear and tear associated with steering.

Keep it rolling: a major software update for the @MarsCuriosity rover will enable the robotic geologist to drive faster, reduce wear and tear on its wheels, and do more of what the team calls “thinking while driving.” Details: https://t.co/yKKWj8nLDt

— NASA Mars (@NASAMars) April 13, 2023