Autonomous Robot Learning to Pick Up Lightsaber-Like Tubes From the Surface of Mars

We're still some years away from when the first component of the Mars Sample Return mission, the Earth Return Orbiter, will depart for Mars. An even longer time separates us from the moment a rover (or some helicopters, as the case may be) starts collecting the titanium tubes Perseverance is dropping all over its place of operation on the Red Planet. Yet humans here on Earth are already hard at work practicing for the mission. The Ma... (continue reading...)