What's the purpose of those pair of grey, uhm, cables meandring around the white box?Why are they put on in such a zigzag way?

What does the golden cylinder do?

And why did they choose such an obscure name like Perverservance? Can't speak neither write it correctly. Why didn't they call it Mars Falcon, or Hawk, Grinder, Minx, Digger, Hamster, Albatross, Mars Gull, Panther, Cheetah, Boxxy, Ferret, Sable, Badger, Roadrunner, Mule, Mole, Fox, Woodpecker or Marspecker?

Thanks in advance!