https://beyondthejoystick.space/tags/dead-reckoning/ Recent content in Dead Reckoning on Beyond the Joystick Hugo en-us Sat, 06 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://beyondthejoystick.space/how-rovers-know-how-far-theyve-gone/ Sat, 06 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://beyondthejoystick.space/how-rovers-know-how-far-theyve-gone/ <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Abstract: The Odometer Fallacy on Mars</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Earth, measuring distance is a trivial task. A vehicle’s odometer counts wheel rotations, multiplies by the circumference, and derives the distance traveled with high precision. On Mars, however, this deterministic logic collapses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the chaotic, non-geometric terrain of the Red Planet, <strong>wheel rotation does not equal linear motion</strong>.</p>