Planetary rovers like China's Zhurong and NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance are engineered to navigate the unpredictable terrain of other worlds, such as Mars. A critical function for this exploration is their ability to turn and change direction autonomously through the precise control of their wheels. These rovers cannot be manually driven in real-time like a remote-controlled car because the vast distances between Earth and other planets cause significant communication delays. This time lag makes direct control impractical and dangerous, as the rover could encounter an unseen obstacle or hazard long before a human operator could react. Therefore, the capacity for the rover to independently adjust its wheel movements to steer around dangers or toward targets is essential.

To overcome this challenge, scientists and engineers program the rovers to make their own navigation decisions, which directly translates into commands for their wheels. By processing data from cameras and sensors, the rovers can create 3D maps of their surroundings, identify potential hazards like large rocks or steep slopes, and then calculate a safe path forward. This path includes specific instructions for how each wheel should rotate to execute turns and maneuvers. This autonomous control over wheel movement allows the rovers to continue their scientific missions safely and efficiently, navigating complex landscapes without constant step-by-step instructions from Earth. This ability to turn and steer independently by commanding their wheels is fundamental to the success of any robotic exploration mission on another planet.