Although lunar missions are not new, researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) are considering a new approach to lunar travel—railway systems are on the rise.
The Flexible Levitation on Air (FLOAT) project is one of six projects announced by NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program.
According to a report by IFL Science, FLOAT aims to provide efficient and safe autonomous transportation by pulling robots along a flexible film track spread directly on the lunar regolith.
The report also revealed that the track will be made of a layer of graphite to raise the diamagnetic, while the flexible circuit produces electromagnetic emissions.
An additional third layer will include solar panels to provide internal power.
Without wheels or legs, the hovering robot will traverse a path that eliminates the need to deal with sharp regolith.
According to the report, the team estimates that 100 tons of material can travel several kilometers every day.
FLOAT and five other projects received $600,000 to test their performance.
If the FLOAT project continues to show its potential, there could be significant infrastructure on the Moon by the 2030s.
