Drive an Analog Mars Rover Prototype via Handheld Deck
Inspired by Tom Scott piloting a real Mars rover prototype using a handheld gaming console. Experience 6-wheel rocker-bogie kinematics, ground clearance telemetry, delay-compensated throttling, and mineral core extraction across basalt dunes.
Mars Yard Analog Testbed
Why Space Engineers Test with Handheld Consoles
When YouTuber Tom Scott visited Airbus Defence and Space and the ExoMars test grounds, engineers handed him a commercially available gaming console (a Valve Steam Deck running custom Linux builds) to control a multi-million dollar prototype.
Off-the-shelf gaming hardware offers ergonomic dual-stick controls, tactile feedback, low-latency Wi-Fi / industrial radio drivers, and high-DPI displays. Using consumer hardware for local field trials lets engineers bypass bulky custom ground stations while evaluating obstacle traversal, rocker-bogie articulate suspensions, and drill positioning.
Key Mechanics in This Simulator
Rocker-Bogie Suspension Mechanics
Unlike conventional cars, rovers use differential pivots connecting left and right rocker assemblies. This equalizes load across all six drive wheels, letting the vehicle climb rocks twice its wheel diameter without tilting the main chassis dangerously.
Drive Modes & Wheel Slip
In loose regolith or steep gravel, higher wheel RPM causes trenching (getting stuck in sand). Switching to Rock Crawl limits top speed while boosting low-end motor current to maximize traction.
Core Sample Rotary Drilling
The simulated percussive drill extracts geological basalt, olivine, and sedimentary mudstone cores. In this simulator, stopping near glowing target beacons enables the drill sequence and records spectral data into your mission log.