Authors: Amy Wang & Chris YuanAmy: Team Member and Experiment Researcher | Chris: Founder, UMIC project/Planet Expedition Commanders Academy (PECA); InnovaSpace advisory group Date of Experiment: April 6, 2025 Location: Huangcaoping, Gengda Township, Wolong District, Sichuan, China Altitude: 2450 meters (Panda Ping) Biodiversity Hotspot: Giant Panda Habitat & Buffer Zone Indigenous groups: Qiang, Tibetan Meet MRD-001: The Mars Recon Dog As part of the StarG2025 platform, the MRD-001 tracked Mars Scout Dog was deployed for its first dual-test mission — one in an urban indoor setting, and another in the field among alpine meadows and virgin forests.
The Test In the first test, the MRD-001 experienced a slope rollover due to camera lag and a collision with a bicycle tire. The controller wires were damaged, but repairs were handled DIY-style — soldered at home by team member Xiao Mao, who also accidentally burned his father’s shirt in the process! Despite that, the field test in the mountainous Wolong terrain was a success: - Smooth movement on muddy slopes - Infrared camera worked reliably - Multiple participants operated functions hands-on Biodiversity Snapshot The Gengda region sits where the Qionglai and Minshan Mountains meet. It supports: - 2,000+ higher plant species (e.g., Davidia involucrata, Taxus chinensis) - Giant Pandas (30% of world’s wild population) - Red Pandas, Sichuan Golden Monkeys, Snow Leopards - White-lipped Deer, Takin, Weasels, and more What We Learned MRD-001 scored 9/10 for performance. Issues with delay and camera streaming were noted, and future upgrades may include a new remote control system. But more than hardware, this was about learning through doing — exploring how robotics and ecology can unite in citizen-led missions. From Pandas to Planets
This isn't just a fun field test — it's training for a future where young people help build and sustain interstellar habitats. Think of it as Earth-based astronaut prep… with pandas! The future of science belongs to the curious — and the courageous. Comments are closed.
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