digging in a different area phoenix ' s robotic body associated with a hard area that has scholars excited about the prospect of next uncovering an icy structure . " we have dug a trench and found a hard layer at the same width as the cold element in our other trench , " answered portland university robotic forearm investigator for phoenix , ray arvidson . the arm tried at best three times to penetrate the layer , but was fails . as a result the arm went into a holding pattern , awaiting its next commands .
A robotic arm has been used for scientific discoveries.