Researchers from China’s Kunlun Polar Research Team in Antarctica have developed the world’s first wind-powered, satellite controlled, autonomous robot called the Polar Rover.

Polar Rover harvests wind energy with the help of top mounted turbine of 200 watts built by New York’s Urban Green Energy (UGE). It uses numerous sensors that include atmospheric sensors, snow samplers, and geography and geology analyzers as it goes on exploring the Antarctic sheets to document the impact that global warming has on the region.

The autonomous robot which is 1.8 meters long, 1.6 meters wide, 1.2 meters high and weighs 300 kilograms made its maiden voyage last month wherein it covered an impressive 1,550 miles in 58 days at an average height of 4,000 meters above the sea level. The rover is capable of tackling the obstacles as high as 0.5 meters and what’s even worth noticing is the fact that small four wheeled vehicle didn’t topple over even in severe windy storms that the continent is known for.

The vertical axis wind turbine sitting atop the Polar Rover is certainly the most significant addition to China’s Kunlun Polar Research Team in Antarctica. The compact wind turbine named ‘HoYi!’ can be installed anywhere, from the Antarctic to marine environments – it is even rated to withstand hurricane force winds.

Polar Rover which is capable of moving swiftly in cold temperatures, geomagnetic interferences, cosmic rays or for that matter, in severe environmental conditions is surely a move ahead in environmental robotic practices to make earth a better place to live. The use of wind power in the Polar Rover also offers long lasting performance while monitoring the environment.

Polar Rover is not the first robot to be used in Antarctic ice, but the combination of renewable energy source is a promising feature in it.