|
Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
|
|
Axel Rover Robotic Crater Explorer Yo-Yo-Bot
NASA's Axel Rover is a whirling yo-yo-bot designed for the most challenging terrain on the Moon and beyond. NASA refers to a robot like the Axel Rover as a 'tethered marsupial rover' because it would spend most of its time attached to a larger vehicle until it is needed.
(Nasa axel rover)
The Axel Rover prototype carries a tether, which would be attached to the larger, conventional rover robot. When conventional robots like Spirit and Opportunity encounter a crater, they cannot descend and explore. However, the Axel Rover can.
(NASA Axel concept 'tethered marsupial rover')
According to Pablo Abad-Manterola, one of the contributing CalTech students:
Right now, it's really risky for astronauts or robots, for example, like Spirit an Opportunity to go into craters. The ground is too loose and the slopes are too steep. So it's too risky for those robots to get into those craters and perform any interesting science. So this robot would be very useful for those types of scenarios, where you can really dive into those craters, pick up some samples, and really analyze them and tell us something really new and interesting about Mars or the moon, for example.
Take a look at the AXEL rover prototype in action here on Earth in the following video.
(Axel Rover video)
The whirling Axel rover reminds me of those wonderful whirling tripedal spider robots (or biots) from Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous With Rama.
See also JALURO Lunar Robot - 2-Wheeled Open Source.
Update 16-Feb-2009: I recently encountered an incredibly accurate description of this rover, in the form of an animal species described by E.E. 'Doc' Smith in his 1950 novel First Lensman:
"There's something moving closer than that, and it's really funny." Jack laughed deeply. "Its like the paddle-wheels, shaft and all, of an old-fashioned river steamboat, rolling along as unconcernedly as you please. He won't miss me by over four feet, but he isn't swerving a hair. I think I'll block him off, just to see what he does."
The traveler paid no attention, did not alter its steady pace of a couple of miles per hour. It measured about twelve inches long over all; its paddle-wheel-like extremities were perhaps two inches wide and three inches in diameter.
(Read more about Smith's fontema)
End update.
From NASA and Engadget.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 2/9/2009)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.
| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories -
("
Robotics
")
Is Your Autonomous Tractor Safe?
'The field-minder finished turning the top-soil of a two-thousand-acre field.' - Brian W. Aldiss, 1958.
Oh Great (Part 2), Fence-Climbing Robots
Please, no stingers.
Finally, Robot Conductors On Autonomous Buses
'Wardour Street,' he told the robot-conductor.' - Robert Silverberg, 1958.
RoboShiko! Sumo Exercises Still Good For Robots
'... the expressionless face before me was therefore that of the golem-wrestler, Rolem, a creature that could be set for five times the strength of a human being.' - Roger Zelazny, 1966.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
|
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
How Old Are Tesla Designs?
You be the judge.
Is Your Autonomous Tractor Safe?
'The field-minder finished turning the top-soil of a two-thousand-acre field.'
Smart TVs Are Listening!
'You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard...'
Police Drones In China Would Like To Have A Word With You
''OVERRIDE,' the City Fathers said suddenly, without being asked anything at all.'
Oh Great (Part 2), Fence-Climbing Robots
Please, no stingers.
Are The Thought Police Listening To Everyone All The Time?
'... they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to.'
Finally, Robot Conductors On Autonomous Buses
'Wardour Street,' he told the robot-conductor.'
RoboShiko! Sumo Exercises Still Good For Robots
'... the expressionless face before me was therefore that of the golem-wrestler, Rolem, a creature that could be set for five times the strength of a human being.'
Giant Robotic Hands At Gundam Next Future Science
'Waldo put his arms into the primary pair before him; all three pairs, including the secondary pair mounted before the machine, came to life.'
JWST Finds Bucking Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
'... the glittering little rocket bolted to the black iron behind him.'
BeamBike Solar Power Canopy For Electric Bikes
'The slender stalks of a sunshade-photocell collector...'
California Fireman Arrested For Starting Fires
'Fire is bright and fire is clean.'
Robots Need A Better Sense Of Touch
'First, it rubbed my arms...'
MouthPad Supports Head And Tongue Tracking
'The operation that had transformed half his body... had located the control switchboard in his teeth.'
REALLY Remote Control Excavators
'It takes over a second for the signal to get to the Moon...'
Disney Helping Robots Dance
Dance, Robots, Dance.
More SF in the News Stories
More Beyond Technovelgy science news stories
|
|