March 01, 2026
An engineer of Indian origin named Vandi Verma has earned recognition for her role in the Perseverance Rover’s artificial intelligence (AI)-planned drives on Mars. This was the first time such drives were conducted on Mars with AI charting out routes for the rover. The drives took place on the edge of Mars’ Jezero Crater in December 2025. Verma, who was born in India, became part of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2007. She significantly contributed to the Perseverance mission as the chief engineer for robotics operations. She has specialised in robotic operations and autonomous robots and contributed to several missions, including the Curiosity, Opportunity and Spirit rovers.
Image Source: wikipedia.org
