![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2017\/06\/rover_test_in_darkness\/16978411-3-eng-GB\/Rover_test_in_darkness_small.jpg\")
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\nESA\u2019s Rover Autonomy Testbed rover is being run in near darkness by Spain\u2019s GMV<\/a> company to simulate the low Sun angles experienced at the Moon\u2019s poles.\n<\/p>\n \nPermanently shadowed craters around the lunar north<\/a> and south poles<\/a> are tempting targets for future robotic missions, seeking water ice and other volatiles believed to be deep frozen in the soil.\n<\/p>\n \nLaboratory testing took place as part of ESA\u2019s Lunar Scenario Concept Validation and Demonstration (Lucid) project. Now, as a next step, this and a second rover \u2013 ESA\u2019s Heavy Duty Planetary Rover<\/a> \u2013 have travelled to Tenerife in the Canary Islands for day and night testing in the volcanic, Moon-like environment of Teide National Park.\n<\/p>\n \nThe two rovers carry navigation aids to work in both light and dark, including stereo cameras, lights, GPS, laser rangers and radar-like lidar. They can build digital 3D maps from these various sensors for both autonomous and teleoperated steering.\n<\/p>\n \nTo follow the progress of the Lucid testing in Tenerife, follow the Twitter hashtag #DarkRover<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nESA’s Rover Autonomy Testbed rover is being run in near darkness by Spain’s GMV<\/a> company to simulate the low Sun angles experienced at the Moon’s poles.\n<\/p>\n \nPermanently shadowed craters around the lunar north<\/a> and south poles<\/a> are tempting targets for future robotic missions, seeking water ice and other volatiles believed to be deep frozen in the soil.\n<\/p>\n \nLaboratory testing took place as part of ESA’s Lunar Scenario Concept Validation and Demonstration (Lucid) project. Now, as a next step, this and a second rover – ESA’s Heavy Duty Planetary Rover<\/a> – have travelled to Tenerife in the Canary Islands for day and night testing in the volcanic, Moon-like environment of Teide National Park.\n<\/p>\n \nThe two rovers carry navigation aids to work in both light and dark, including stereo cameras, lights, GPS, laser rangers and radar-like lidar. They can build digital 3D maps from these various sensors for both autonomous and teleoperated steering.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n