It was designed to test a number of new technologies for planetary exploration, including a camera capable of sending 360 - degree video images to operators back home, sensors and metal detectors for uncovering meteorites, and a new navigational system called
safeguarded teleoperation.
In particular when combined
with teleoperation it can open up a new class of applications such as the one considered in this paper.
But real -
time teleoperation has its challenges, such as signal latency and other issues.