Strategic Exploration of Elysium Mons Cave Zone on Mars: Implications for AI-Driven Robotic Dogs

Strategic Exploration of Elysium Mons Cave Zone on Mars: Implications for AI-Driven Robotic Dogs | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Strategic Exploration of Elysium Mons Cave Zone on Mars: Implications for AI-Driven Robotic Dogs Ravi Sharma, Chunyu Ding, Francesco Soldovieri, Yachen Xie, Yan Su, and 10 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7236981/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The present study investigates possible evidence for an underground cavity on the western flank of Elysium Mons, initially identified in the Mars Cave Catalog, which is interpreted as a potential subsurface lava tube skylight. Using a multi-sensing approach, we analyze a Potential Cave Candidate (PCC) that emerges as a promising target for future missions, offering insights into Martian subsurface processes, resource potential, and astrobiological prospects. In particular, CTX and HiRISE imagery from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, captured under varying solar illumination angles, reveal an elliptical morphology with persistent shadowed regions and roof collapse features, indicating depth and potential subterranean connectivity. HiRISE imagery further identifies a possible cave entrance suitable for future robotic exploration. Thermal data from the Mars Odyssey's THEMIS instrument indicate nocturnal thermal anomalies, supporting subsurface continuity. Topographic profiles derived from the Mars Global Surveyor’s MOLA data provide precise elevation measurements, reinforcing the hypothesis of an underground cavity.Additionally, TES mineralogical analysis identifies K-feldspar, plagioclase, amphibole, sulfates, carbonates, sheet silicates, high-silicon glass, and surface dust, indicative of volcanic processes and past water activity. These findings inform the proposed location of a landing site and an optimized robotic exploration path, emphasizing the potential use of AI-driven robotic dogs. These advanced systems combine AI-driven mobility, LiDAR-based mapping, and autonomous decision-making to navigate challenging terrains, including crater walls and potential cave entrances. Integrating such technology into planetary in situ exploration could overcome the limitations of traditional rovers, enhancing in situ analysis and advancing the search for habitable environments and biosignatures on Mars. This research has critical implications for the first extraterrestrial cave exploration, China's first Mars cave mission, and the broader quest for liquid water and potential extraterrestrial life, representing a transformative milestone in planetary exploration. Physical sciences/Astronomy and planetary science Earth and environmental sciences/Planetary science Earth and environmental sciences/Solid earth sciences Mars Subsurface Cave Exploration Landing site Historic water Potential Extraterrestrial Life AI-Driven Robotic Dogs Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 03 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 23 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 12 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Aug, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 30 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 30 Jul, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 30 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 28 Jul, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7236981","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":494852876,"identity":"93a33a53-07f0-4b3c-954a-729add6482ea","order_by":0,"name":"Ravi Sharma","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shenzhen University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ravi","middleName":"","lastName":"Sharma","suffix":""},{"id":494852877,"identity":"aa9f97f7-6e77-43ef-abaf-9bce3e9557d4","order_by":1,"name":"Chunyu Ding","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA4klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDCCw0DM2ABiMR+AiBwgXgtbApFaDsC18BgQp4XvOO/hFz93HM4zuJHz+ePPNgY5vhsJjJ8L8GiRPMyXZtl75nCxwY3cbRKSbQzGkjcSmKVn4NFicJjHzJix7XDiBqAWBsM2BiAjgY2ZhzgtOY8/JLYx1BOjxfgxVAuDxME2hgQDQlokgbYw9ralJ84888xMsuGchOHMMw+bpfFp4Tt/xvjDzzbrxL7jyY8//iizkec7nnzwMz4tQMAmASIVDoA5IDYkmvAB5g8gUp6gulEwCkbBKBixAADfMVQpnmzdRwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Shenzhen University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Chunyu","middleName":"","lastName":"Ding","suffix":""},{"id":494852878,"identity":"bb3b7efb-c557-4af0-9721-df08e12ff5e6","order_by":2,"name":"Francesco Soldovieri","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"National Research Council of Italy (CNR)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Francesco","middleName":"","lastName":"Soldovieri","suffix":""},{"id":494852879,"identity":"a26fb7b0-f3fe-4128-adb4-906b43c4b714","order_by":3,"name":"Yachen Xie","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sichuan University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yachen","middleName":"","lastName":"Xie","suffix":""},{"id":494852880,"identity":"8cd164bb-48b7-44a8-a3b5-327b9d9cd015","order_by":4,"name":"Yan Su","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"National Astronomical Observatories","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yan","middleName":"","lastName":"Su","suffix":""},{"id":494852881,"identity":"a9a95b8a-77f0-4f8b-834d-bd19a515f692","order_by":5,"name":"Yuxiao Zhi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shenzhen University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yuxiao","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhi","suffix":""},{"id":494852882,"identity":"5824693f-7a2e-41ad-8544-d6a3f1556cb5","order_by":6,"name":"Jiangwan Xu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shenzhen University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jiangwan","middleName":"","lastName":"Xu","suffix":""},{"id":494852883,"identity":"69b5ef7b-f656-4d34-9d4f-6ac9bc7d4c09","order_by":7,"name":"Zhonghan Lei","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shenzhen University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Zhonghan","middleName":"","lastName":"Lei","suffix":""},{"id":494852884,"identity":"aab3698d-18c3-4b3a-8d12-94bbe84e8534","order_by":8,"name":"Xiaohang Qiu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shenzhen University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xiaohang","middleName":"","lastName":"Qiu","suffix":""},{"id":494852885,"identity":"fc160db5-fe9b-4616-9d29-e1c10defa2aa","order_by":9,"name":"Haoyu Chen","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shenzhen University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Haoyu","middleName":"","lastName":"Chen","suffix":""},{"id":494852886,"identity":"a197645f-3b25-4643-ac95-ee659f1b6b7d","order_by":10,"name":"Zihang Liang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shenzhen University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Zihang","middleName":"","lastName":"Liang","suffix":""},{"id":494852887,"identity":"6c26e820-266b-4fe1-939b-77d3e6d0dc0c","order_by":11,"name":"Changzhi Jiang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shenzhen University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Changzhi","middleName":"","lastName":"Jiang","suffix":""},{"id":494852888,"identity":"8cbc19fd-5e20-4e58-99f9-1fbc4b661b30","order_by":12,"name":"Mi Song","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shenzhen University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mi","middleName":"","lastName":"Song","suffix":""},{"id":494852889,"identity":"b3b5b858-8d51-4870-94ac-95496283238d","order_by":13,"name":"S. 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