Visit to the Laboratory of Robotics and Planetary Exploration.
Center of Astrobiology. INTA. 
June 2005

Alejandro Alonso Puig visited the Laboratory of Robotics and Planetary Exploration from the Center of Astobiology (CAB), belonging to the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA).

The PhD. Javier Gómez Elvira, Assistant director of the Center of Astrobiology showed some projects in which the Center is working in the area of Robotics.

From Left to right: PhD. Javier Gómez Elvira, Alejandro Alonso Puig 
and the robot "PTinto" being developed at CAB

Robot PTinto from CAB. 
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One of those project is "PTinto", which goal is to develop a remotely controlled hexapod robot for the in deep study of the Tinto river (Huelva-Spain), with a set of tools to analize different aspects of the river. 

The Center of Astrobiology considers the study of Tinto river as key for the planetary exploration. This river has been chosen as a unique case that could help to understand the start of life, mainly in Mars.
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The Project "Snorkel" supports the creation of an underwater robot with the same name as the project. Snorkel is a robot developed for the exploration and analysis of the Tinto river. Its structure, based on aeronautical aluminum, support high concentrations of acid in the water.

In the following pictures we could see different images of the robot, during a period of internal revision.

Underwater robot  Snorkel
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The Center of Astrobiology works in association with the NASA Institute of Astrobiology,  for the design and development of robots, communication systems and different tools for the search of life in other planets.

Model of the Sojourner robot for the exploration of Mars
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