zoltan wrote:
When you use force feedback, you get the feeling that you are doing the
manipulation yourself. This can only be done well if the time delay is
short, on the order of a few milliseconds, up to about maybe 20. Radio
links have time delays not only from time of flight of the signal but
also from the filters used in the transmit and receive electronics. I
worked with 5 mSeconds time delay and 1mS servo loop time and got
decent results. Some time delay is due to the kinematic transformations
done by the control computers. Reliability also suffers if you have to
maintain a radio link between the operator and the robot.

That's good information. It seems to largely preclude Earth based
operation of the robots, but I agree with Josh, moon based operation
over a wireless link is the way to go. A mix might be possible - simple
things like driving from A to B, transporting a cargo could be done by
an Earth based operator. Compex things like unscrewing a section of
pipe might be done from the lunar hab module.

I mentioned elsewhere that a large proportion of the astronaut time
would be spent in a repair shed. Robots would any pieces they couldn't
repair through the airlock. If Astronauts are going to spend 6-12
months on the moon, they'd want to minimise surface time.

See Mike Combs story for a good description:

http://members.aol.com/howiecombs/tnbttbt.htm