The next thing in robotics
In an update of the Mars rover's situation, the flight controllers have indicated that the plans will switch to surviving the upcoming Martian winter rather than trying to extricate Spirit from the sand trap where it is stuck. The story from Cosmic Log is linked to below. Follow that link to read the post. "Right…
NASA has this experiment onboard the International Space Space to test the concept of robot flying in formation and performing other manuevers in space. The NASA website explains, “Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) are bowling-ball sized spherical satellites. Three free-flying spheres can fly within the cabin of the Space Station, performing flight…
Read More “Spherical Robots Practice Formation Flying in Space” »
Sometimes the biggest discoveries come through by accident. Spirit, the Mars robotic rover stuck in a patch of loose Martian soil, has churned–up something interesting. Bright, fluffy material covered by a dark crust. To see what this might mean, check out the article from PhysOrg.com. Credit: JPL/NASA via PhysOrg Spirit surveys its own predicament. The…
Read More “Trying to Dig Out, Mars Robot Digs Into a Discovery” »
Arthur C. Clarke brought this idea to the forefront in his 1979 novel "The Fountains of Paradise", but the idea dates back to 1895 when Konstantin Tsiolkovsky proposed “a free-standing tower reaching from the surface of Earth to geostationary orbit.” Over the years, the idea has gone from impossible to a competition to build a…
Read More “Seattle Team Robot Wins Space Elevator Challenge” »
Up to this point in space exploration, robots have been solitary explorers commanded ultimately from Earth. Sure, they may have used other spacecraft for communication relays as some Mars landers have done, but they have not been controlled by other machines. Now, that may be changing. As this story from the Telegraph states, “Robotic airships…
Read More “Robot Battalions Will Explore the Solar System” »
Here is a project that combines two of my great passions: space exploration and robots. These college students have developed a robot for the NASA Regolith Excavator Centennial Challenge at Ames Research Air Force Base in Mountain View, California, on October 17. Winner of the challenge will win a half a million dollars. In order…
New Scientist has an article on the contenders for the Google Lunar X Prize. If you haven’t heard of this, it is a contest sponsored by Google to see who can land a rover on the Moon and accomplish a set of pre-assigned tasks. Do this and your team gets a great deal of recognition…
Read More “Robotic Hamster Ball Design for Google Lunar X Prize” »
Here’s another take on the Astrobotic Technology robot that is slated to voyage to the Moon in 2011. These two stories cover the power angle of this future lunar explorer. This robot will use solar power as its energy source and it is being designed to survive the heat of lunar noon. Check out both…
In a post today at IEEE Spectrum, the design for Astrobotic Technology’s entry into the Google Lunar X Prize in revealed. This unique concept is conceived around the idea of surviving the incredible heat of a lunar noon which is 270 degrees F or 130 degrees C. Just how will it accomplish this feat? David…
Read More “Astrobotic Technology Reveals Robot Design To Survive Moon’s Extreme Heat” »
This robot can jump like a grasshopper and roll like a tumbleweed. It is called Jollbot and it may be headed to Mars someday. Or it may help here on Earth in areas of rough terrain with jobs like surveying. Going back to an article posted in December, 2008 at PhysOrg.com, the researchers believe this…
Read More “Robotic Grasshopper May Help Explore Mars Surface” »
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