Robotic Explorers Take Step Forward--In Theory Anyway

I think robotic exploration is over-due for an overhaul. Why not use inflatables to explore from above while fleets of rovers cover the landscape, all transmitting captured data to an immobile base unit on the surface used to transmit the lot of it to an orbiting satellite and back to earth?

We already have the hardware. All that remains is writing the software to tie it all together. Relative piece of cake.

They call it being "tier-scalable" and consider it a revolutionary idea. I call it common sense and say Cracker Barrel has been doing it for years: First a restaurant, then add a store front, carry-out, catering, catalog sales, online retail outlet---everything designed with the same goal of adding to the bottom line. If one system fails, the others can shore up capital.

or, as Aesop called it:

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.