MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TEFCHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov


Photo Caption

May 2000 Nevada Field Test – May 15, 2000

The Field Integrated Design and Operations (FIDO) rover is 
being used in ongoing NASA field tests to simulate driving 
conditions on Mars. 

FIDO is at a geologically interesting site in central 
Nevada while it is controlled from the mission control room 
at JPL's Planetary Robotics Laboratory in Pasadena. 

FIDO is about the size of a St. Bernard. It weighs about 70 
kilograms (154 pounds) and is approximately 85 centimeters 
(about 33 inches) wide, 105 centimeters (41 inches) long, 
and 55 centimeters (22 inches) high. The rover moves at an 
average speed of about 200 meters an hour (about one tenth 
a mile per hour) over smooth terrain, using its onboard 
stereo vision systems to detect and avoid obstacles "on-
the-fly." During these tests, FIDO is powered by both solar 
panels that cover the top of the rover and by replaceable, 
rechargeable batteries. FIDO is about twice the size of 
Mars Pathfinder's Sojourner rover and is far more capable 
of performing its job without frequent human help.