How do Mars rovers drive themselves on another planet?

Mars rovers cannot be driven in real time like remote-control cars because of the communication delay between Earth and Mars. Instead, engineers send driving instructions and the rover uses cameras and software to detect rocks, slopes, and loose soil. It can stop or reroute itself if it sees a dangerous obstacle. Curiosity and Perseverance both use autonomous navigation systems to travel farther and more safely between science targets. This autonomy saves time and helps missions make the most of limited daylight and power.