LMRs, or Little Martian Rovers, are computer controlled robots capable of traversing the martian terrain and completing certain scientific and navigational tasks. Their main purpose is to autonomously perform primary scientific tests on soil samples on the martian terrain, in the search for evidence of past or present life. Results of these primary scientific tests would be transmitted back to the human base, where the results would be analyzed and thereby be used to decide whether further confirmation tests and devotion of time to the sample are necessary.

One might then wonder, given that Mission 2004 is a manned mission, why the astronauts themselves cannot perform these tasks out on the martian surface.

This was a question we asked ourselves as soon as we made our decision to design Mission 2004 to be a manned mission. How can our LMRs support the astronauts? How can they help us reach our primary goal: finding life on Mars? We found many answers - answers that raised many design questions and objectives.