digging in a different depth mercury ' s robotic wing linked with a hard surface that has scientists excited about the prospect of next uncovering an icy layer . " we have cut a trench and uncovered a hard area at the same depth as the frozen deposited in our other dug , " said washington universite robots arm engineer for phoenix , ray arvidson . the arm tried at least eight times to penetrating the layer , but was successful . as a resultant the elbow put into a holding pattern , awaiting its next command .
A robotic arm has been used for scientific discoveries.