In 2013, I built a solar-powered rover for the Kerbal Space Program team, as an incentive to add rovers to the game.

I intend to take that design, make it easier and cheaper to build, and allow school and small universities to have a real research rover program.

I was the first to build an Android-operated rover (Jan 2010) and have improved the technology ever since.

So what's the idea?

* Autonomous - Android Phone (Camera/Radio) and Parallax Propeller (navigation)

* Long Haul -- Solar powered, maintenance-free design that can work for a year

* Heavy Duty -- Can handle rough terrain; 1.25kW open-design motor controller

* Do Science -- Connection ports for soil probes (humidity, pH, etc)

* Strike the Earth -- The design will include a drill or auger to use aforementioned probes properly

* Open Design -- All schematics and manufacturing methods will be posted

* Biotrophy -- As a "stretch goal", the design may include a clorophyll detector