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NASA and robotic research
http://www.stnews.org/News-528.htm
At last there is news that NASA is doing some serious robotics research. I feel though that NASA is thinking in a far too anthropomorphic way. If you are talking about LEO telepresence I suppose that anthropomorphism is to a degree necessary. However where the return light journey is a matter of minutes or hours I would advocate something like a hub with manipulators and sensors attached. I note that robot - robot communication is envisaged as is "speech and gestures". Why not simply have the normal protocols of computer - computer communication - Ethernet , WiFi, Bluetooth, USB or Firewire? gestures/speech. If telepresent one communicates by pressure on the suit If Mars (telepresence impossible) simply send something resembling an E-mail. BTW If the normal computer - computer protocols are used we can perform a task using UNIX and PVM (Parallel Virtual Machine). I note too that decision making and geometrical understanding is going to be made a priority. I have said before that the basic step for a Von Neumann machine was understanding CAD/CAM. The article did not mention building and repairing robots, but this is implicit. |
#3
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NASA and robotic research
It is because everything is defined in terms of CAD/CAM. It is
inconceivable that a robot would not in itself be so defined. This being the case all the processes needed to construct such a robot, including the basic extraction processes would be thus defined. No it is not a VN machine, but after CAD/CAM the momentum towards one is irresistable. BTW - We should be speaking of a VN swarm. If we send 2 robots + spares to Mars one can repair the other. |
#4
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NASA and robotic research
wrote: It is because everything is defined in terms of CAD/CAM. It is inconceivable that a robot would not in itself be so defined. This being the case all the processes needed to construct such a robot, including the basic extraction processes would be thus defined. No it is not a VN machine, but after CAD/CAM the momentum towards one is irresistable. We know that, just like the sun is irrestibale. But the engineering problems are the same as submarine problems, and concern the shape of lungs, not brains. BTW - We should be speaking of a VN swarm. If we send 2 robots + spares to Mars one can repair the other. |
#5
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NASA and robotic research
We know that, just like the sun is irrestibale.
But the engineering problems are the same as submarine problems, and concern the shape of lungs, not brains. I find this hard to follow. A robot is electrically powered, it needs no lungs. The only reason why you want anthropomorphism is in LEO where you can be telepresent, get into a suit and become the robot. This is impossible at distances greater than about 0.2 sec (60,000km). For telepresence of couse no understanding, other than transfer functions, is needed as a human is providing all the intelligence. The basic reasoning which will lead to VN capabilities is the ability to understand the CAD/CAM environment, assemble assemblies from parts and sub assemblies, and carry out instructions to build something, defined in CAD terms. Understanding must, of course, be such as to carry out these functions unaided. The nature of the operating environment is to some extent irrelevant, except to say that it must be understood, and the robot must have the basic capabilities within whatever environment it is operating. |
#6
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NASA and robotic research
In article .com,
wrote: http://www.stnews.org/News-528.htm At last there is news that NASA is doing some serious robotics research... Uh, notice that said "news" is a year old. And it's probably obsolete, because NASA's latest budget is drastically cutting many R&D areas which are seen as not immediately relevant to the return to the Moon. As Jeff Greason put it at Space Access: "NASA is well and truly out of the R&D business; they're going to focus on their core competencies." -- spsystems.net is temporarily off the air; | Henry Spencer mail to henry at zoo.utoronto.ca instead. | |
#7
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NASA and robotic research
Henry Spencer wrote:
As Jeff Greason put it at Space Access: "NASA is well and truly out of the R&D business; they're going to focus on their core competencies." -- I wonder what those are? Any thoughts? |
#8
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NASA and robotic research
Henry Spencer wrote: In article .com, wrote: http://www.stnews.org/News-528.htm At last there is news that NASA is doing some serious robotics research... Uh, notice that said "news" is a year old. And it's probably obsolete, because NASA's latest budget is drastically cutting many R&D areas which are seen as not immediately relevant to the return to the Moon. As Jeff Greason put it at Space Access: "NASA is well and truly out of the R&D business; they're going to focus on their core competencies." -- spsystems.net is temporarily off the air; | Henry Spencer mail to henry at zoo.utoronto.ca instead. | To me it is obvious that robotics are the key to space. The ISS (and the Shuttle) which is costing all the money is going precisely nowhere. A golf shot - Big big deal! A determined effort, spending a lot lot less than on the above items, will somewhere down the line create a VN machine. I suppose being British I should welcome this, but if the US does not do it other countries will. A lead in robotics will represent a lead in space in general, such is its importance. If what you say is true, the US has lost its lead in space. |
#9
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NASA and robotic research
Alex Terrell wrote:
Greason put it at Space Access: "NASA is well and truly out of the R&D business; they're going to focus on their core competencies." I wonder what those are? Any thoughts? Consuming federal funds. Paul |
#10
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NASA and robotic research
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