2446C

2446C is a fictional designation used in this article to refer to a class of autonomous planetary rovers developed by GeneSys Aerospace in the mid-22nd century. The designation derives from an internal project code (2446) with revision C.

The rover is designed for scientific reconnaissance and sample collection on rocky and dusty extraterrestrial terrains. It features a four-wheel rocker-bogie suspension, all-wheel drive, and a modular instrument bay. Sensor suites typically include stereo vision cameras, LIDAR, infrared spectroscopy, ground-penetrating radar, and a drill arm with sample caching capability. The vehicle is compatible with solar-electric power supplemented by a compact radiothermal generator for high-demand operations, and it carries a compact computer system capable of semi-autonomous navigation and data processing.

Autonomy and control are built around a hierarchical AI system that combines onboard SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) with mission-planning software. Operators can supervise multiple units from a distant control station, sending high-level objectives while the rover handles low-level navigation and sampling tasks. Communication uses a high-bandwidth relay network to maintain real-time data links under challenging terrain.

Variants of 2446C include the 2446C-01, a science-focused configuration optimized for mineralogical surveys; the 2446C-02, a reconnaissance variant with enhanced endurance and sensor suite; and the 2446C-L, a lunar-version designed for regolith analysis and in-situ resource utilization demonstrations.

Development and deployment for the 2446C program began in the late 2040s, with field tests conducted on terrestrial analog sites in the 2050s. In these scenarios, 2446C units demonstrated robust autonomy, modular instrumentation, and reliable sample handling across diverse conditions. See also: Mars rovers, lunar rovers, planetary robotics.