Robotic “Dogs” Train for Mars in New Mexico’s Desert

Researchers are making steady progress toward a future where dog-like robots could roam the surface of Mars, assisting astronauts and conducting science in places too dangerous

for humans. Earlier this month, a team of engineers and scientists spent five days at White Sands National Park in New Mexico, putting a four-legged robot through its paces on the desert’s vast, shifting dunes—conditions chosen to mimic the challenges of walking on Mars.

White Sands, with its endless gypsum sand, is more than just a scenic location. For space researchers, it serves as a Mars-analog environment—a natural laboratory on Earth that offers insights into what robots and astronauts might face on the Red Planet. During the trials, the team simulated field scenarios involving quadruped robots, rovers, astronauts, and Mission Control teams back on Earth. By experimenting with this mix of human and robotic explorers, the researchers hope to refine strategies for future interplanetary missions.

The project builds on earlier work at Mount Hood in Oregon, where the same robot was tested on steep, rocky slopes resembling lunar terrain. Together, these sites offer a diverse training ground for technologies that must adapt to wildly different planetary surfaces.

Cristina Wilson, a robotics researcher at Oregon State University and a key member of the project, explained the team’s motivation: “Our group is very committed to putting quadrupeds on the Moon and on Mars. It’s the next frontier and takes advantage of the unique capabilities of legged robots.”

Building the Next Generation of Space Robotics

The work is part of a NASA-funded initiative known as the LASSIE Project—short for Legged Autonomous Surface Science in Analog Environments. The program is a collaborative effort that includes engineers, cognitive scientists, geoscientists, and planetary experts from Oregon State, the University of Southern California, Texas A&M University, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

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This multidisciplinary team is aligned with NASA’s broader Moon to Mars program, which aims to develop the tools and systems needed for sustained exploration of the Moon and eventual crewed missions to Mars. Just as earlier breakthroughs—such as landing rovers and even a helicopter on Mars—opened new doors in planetary exploration, researchers see quadruped robots as the next leap forward.

Unlike traditional wheeled rovers, four-legged robots can navigate rougher terrain, climb over obstacles, and sense unstable surfaces underfoot. That makes them ideal partners for astronauts, who will need both reliable tools and independent robotic assistants when operating far from Earth.

Testing in Tough Conditions

This month’s field session at White Sands was the second time the team has worked in the park, following an initial visit in 2023. They also conducted trials at Mount Hood in both 2023 and 2024. Each expedition generates valuable data by recording how the robots’ feet interact with the ground.

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Wilson compared the process to human movement: “Just as our feet can sense whether the ground is stable, legged robots can potentially ‘feel’ the same thing. Every step provides feedback that helps improve performance in future missions.”

The conditions at White Sands tested not only the robots but also the scientists themselves. With temperatures soaring into the triple digits, the team began work at sunrise and had to finish by late morning, when both researchers and machines risked overheating. The punishing schedule, however, paid off.

For the first time, the quadruped robot successfully demonstrated autonomous behavior—making its own decisions rather than relying solely on human input. This milestone, Wilson noted, is critical for future planetary missions: “If a quadruped were working alongside an astronaut on Mars, autonomy would allow both to operate independently. That effectively doubles the amount of science that could be done.”

Smarter, More Efficient Robots

Another focus of the trials was testing adaptive movement strategies. By adjusting its gait based on surface conditions, the robot can conserve energy—a key factor for missions where every watt of power matters. Energy-efficient locomotion could mean longer operating times, extended mission lifespans, and more opportunities for scientific discovery.

Wilson acknowledged that much work remains but emphasized the progress already made:

“There is still a lot more research to do, but these are important steps toward our goal of sending quadrupeds to the Moon and Mars.”

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The initiative is supported by NASA’s Planetary Science and Technology through Analog Research (PSTAR) program as well as the Mars Exploration Program, both of which invest in research that prepares humanity for the challenges of living and working beyond Earth.

As robotic dogs trek across Earth’s deserts and mountains, they are doing more than providing a glimpse of futuristic exploration—they are laying the groundwork for humanity’s next great adventure. By combining autonomy, adaptability, and resilience, quadruped robots may one day walk side by side with astronauts, helping them unravel the mysteries of the Moon and Mars. For now, every sunrise test at White Sands brings that vision a step closer to reality.