[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - August 30, 2004

[stan .]

>This
>proved to be prudent, since the rover again ended up slipping more than
>50 percent during most of its drive, with little progress away from
>dangerous terrain.

i'm curious - since slipping seems to be a major complication (or at least 
hazard) to the rover, why were the crafts not designed with some sort of 
inertial navigation capibilities? That way instead of commanding the rover 
to move foward 'x' feet, the controllers could command the rovers to spin 
the wheels untill the rover actually moved 'x' feet - not to mention the 
rover could also tell if it were, for example diggin it's self into a hole 
due to poor traction on sand, ect?

I'm sure there is an easy answer to this question, but obviously not one 
that comes to (my) mind :)

TIA

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