digging in a different trench phoenix ' s robotic arm connected with a harder surface that has scientists excited about the prospect of again uncovering an oxide blanket . " we have dug a gap and uncovered a rough layer at the same depth as the ice layer in our other trench , " said liberty university robot arm investigator for phoenix , rays arvidson . the hand tried at best five times to penetrate the layer , but was unable . as a response the arm entered into a holding pattern , expecting its next summons .
A robotic arm has been used for scientific discoveries.