An electrical rover needs an antenna to tele- command it. Can we misuse this antenna for a second job? Yes, we can - as a launch rod for a small rocket, piggyback on the main rover as a backup, if the main rover can not go ahead.

Some more pictures...

Front view of the rover. Two miniature gear motors drive the wheels - admitted, not very cross country but very manoeuvrable.


Open housing - a can, former containing cheese, imported from Germany to China. Inside the can the battery, a hacked toy RC receiver and a Darlington power transistor to switch the model rocket igniter.


Back view of the rover. For the rear wheel a ping-pong ball was misused. Behind the rear wheel you can see the terminal for the rocket igniter.


Video of test drive and rocket launch will follow. Advanced prototype of this rover (propulsion, wheels, housing, micro- controller, optimal start angle adjustment of the rocket according to the inclination of the rover, etc.) is in progress.