deep in a different trench phoenix ' s robotic arm connected with a hard surface that has scientists excited about the chance of next uncovering an icy layer . " we have built a channel and buried a hard sheet at the same depth as the ice pile in our other tomb , " reported washington university robotic unit researcher for phoenix , ross arvidson . the arms tried at minimum three times to penetrate the layer , but was unsuccessful . as a result the arm went into a holding pattern , expecting its next request .
A robotic arm has been used for scientific discoveries.