STEM与日常科技·英语30篇（1）

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深空通信延迟与自主决策

A signal from Mars takes between 4 and 24 minutes to reach Earth — far too long for real-time control of rovers or landers.
To navigate rocky terrain safely, Perseverance uses onboard AI to map paths, avoid obstacles, and select science targets independently.
Its autonomous navigation system processes stereo camera images every few seconds and updates driving plans without ground input.
When drilling into Martian rock, the rover checks for stability and adjusts pressure using embedded sensors and preloaded logic.
Mission teams send high-level commands like 'explore this hill', then trust the rover to execute details based on current conditions.
Autonomy also protects against signal loss: if contact drops, the spacecraft enters safe mode and waits for new instructions.
Future missions to Jupiter’s moons will face even longer delays — up to 90 minutes one-way — making autonomy non-negotiable.
Engineers test these systems rigorously on Earth using simulated time lags and unpredictable terrain.