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Hyperion Robot Follows the Sun

Posted by michael on from the you-make-me-happy-when-skies-are-grey dept.

jeffsenter writes: "NASA is about to test a solar powered and solar orienting wheeled robot known as Hyperion on arctic Devos Island, Canada. The Carnegie Mellon designed robot is a prototype for future robots to explore the polar regions of Mars, the Moon, and other moons. Here is the BBC article and here is the NYTimes (free reg. req.)."

6 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. Firestone by macdaddy · · Score: 4
    Let's just hope they aren't Firestone tires...

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  2. Panel orientation needs location and time? by Louis+Savain · · Score: 5

    By knowing where it is and the correct time, the robot can compute where the Sun is and keep its solar panel pointed in the right direction.

    Strange. Why does a robot need to know its location and the time of day in order to find where the sun is? Unless it's a cloudy day, would not a simple light-sensitive sensor suffice? And if it's cloudy or night time solar panels are not much use.

    Besides, even if it knows its precise location and the correct time, it would also need to know which direction it is facing and its exact angle with respect to the vertical. Seems to be a rather complex approach to a relatively simple problem.

  3. Nifty, but... by G-Man · · Score: 5

    ...if it gets too close to a light bulb will it drive around in circles like insects do? Some Martians are gonna want to have a nighttime barbecue and this thing is gonna keep driving circles around them. You just know they're going to swat it...

  4. Can't help myself by BierGuzzl · · Score: 5
    From the BBC article:
    The solar-powered machine is capable of making its way across uncharted territory while tracking the path of the Sun. It can even call for human assistance if it gets lost.
    I can see it now... "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!"
  5. Big deal. by dasmegabyte · · Score: 5

    So the robot follows the sun. Big frickin' deal. I've trained my Aibo to follow co-eds in short skirts. It's even trained to take pictures with its 640x480 CCD camera and upload them to Igor on voyeurweb.

    All I'm saying is that NASA seems to spend a lot of time worrying about not getting lost on Mars, and not enough time worrying about how to take compromising photos of those fly-ass Martian babes I saw in those fifties sci-fi flicks.

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    Hey freaks: now you're ju
  6. It calls for help? by JohnnyKnoxville · · Score: 4

    The BBC article says the robot can call for human help if need be. What happens when it is on Mars. Will NASA send a mechanic to Mars?