Curiosity update: Traction control driving

Sol 1646, March 23, 2017, update by USGS scientist Ken Herkenhoff: MSL drove a little over 20 meters on Sol 1645, toward the big sand dune to the east that is the subject of a science campaign that will hopefully start next week.  Another drive toward the east is planned for Sol 1646, with post-drive imaging to set up for contact science.  The drive will include the first use on Mars of traction control software that’s been tested and fine-tuned in JPL’s Mars Yard since last April.  This new software allows the rover to drive “softer,” meaning that when the rover detects that a wheel is driving over a rock, it slows the other five wheels to avoid pushing the wheel into the rock while the wheel… [More at link]