digging in a different passageway luke ' s robotic wing connected with a hard surface that has scientists excited about the potential of next uncovering an icy layer . " we have drilled a trench and buried a hard floor at the same thickness as the hot layer in our other trench , " said washington university robotic arm officer for phoenix , ray arvidson . the team tried at least three times to penetrate the layer , but was unsuccessful . as a result the tool went into a holding pattern , waits its next commands .
A robotic arm has been used for scientific discoveries.