Does a levitating robot train on the moon sound far-fetched? NASA doesn’t seem to think so, as the agency has just greenlit further funding for a study looking into the concept.
The FLOAT project could result in materials being transported across the moon's surface as soon as the 2030s, according to the agency. Related: Packs of dog-shaped robots could one day roam the moon — if they can find their footing on Earth first According to NASA's initial design, FLOAT will consist of magnetic robots levitating over a three-layer film track to reduce abrasion from dust on the lunar surface. Carts will be mounted on these robots and will move at roughly 1 mph . They could transport roughly 100 tons of material a day to and from NASA's future lunar base.