CADRE is mainly designed to be effective as its rovers are smaller than typical rovers. By taking simultaneous measurements from multiple differing locations, CADRE's rovers can collaboratively share data in ways that single rovers themselves couldn't. The rovers will be powered by solar panels and each will have about the same size as that of a carry-on bag.
The rovers will communicate via mesh network radios and a base station on the IM-3 Nova-C lander. IM-3 will land in the lunar swirl of the Reiner Gamma region on the Moon, as shown above. CADRE is attempted to pave the way for future autonomous rover networks on other terrestrial bodies like Mars or its moons.