In search of signs of ancient life and the collection of samples to return as planned to Earth, NASA's Presference vehicle uses autonomous driving capabilities as it wanders through the Giziro crater

The Martian rover travels on the surface with the help of special 3D glasses, as planned by NASA's JPL team, which controls the driving path with specific stops. But the team overseeing the mission increasingly allows the vehicle to "take over" and choose how to reach the planned stations on course.

The "Presference" automatic mobility system, known as AutoAv, makes 3D terrain maps in front of it, identifies risks, and plans a path around any obstacles without additional guidance from the controllers on the ground.

NASA announced on Twitter that its "Presverence" rover was still making its way through the plain to the Delta area using autonomous driving mode, adding: "It has made good progress and even set a new record: 520 meters (0.32 miles) over three consecutive days."

Now the rover can drive through this most complex terrain, helping it achieve its scientific goals and break driving records.

From March 14, the rover moved from an area close to its landing site, Octavia E. Butler Landing, to an area where an ancient river was flowing into a body of water and accumulated sediment, known as delta, which is likely to be the best place to find any evidence of any ancient Martian life.

The search for such evidence is one of the primary mission objectives of the Mars Sample Return Mission (MSR) to Earth via a separate mission with an orbital booster that takes off from the Martian surface.