Slashdot Mirror
Smart Satellite Sets Its Own Priorities
Roland Piquepaille writes "Currently, satellites take pictures of whatever is in front of their cameras. But hydrologists from the University of Arizona (UA), working with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are creating spacecraft that think for themselves. Their smart software, which is tested on NASA's EO-1 satellite, can be used on all kinds of spacecraft. This software has three components: an image formation module, a science algorithm module, and a continuous planning module. This onboard planner reschedules what to film in conjunction with what the scientific algorithms have detected. This software has already detected floods in Australia and will be adapted to also detect volcano eruptions and changes in ice fields. More details and references are available in this overview, including images of the flood detected by this smart software."
Nasa: For the last time, will you please stop looking at the nude beaches on Earth and instead look at Pulsar 19834
Satellite: I'm afraid I can't do that Dave
Well I tried that in my last job and got canned!
from the previous story. *Then* we're all in trouble...
The "hot chick chick next door suntanning nude in the backyard" detection module, that is.
I browse Slashdot at +3, Funny
just remember:
"I've just picked up a fault in the AE35 unit. It's going to go 100% failure in 72 hours"
or
HAL: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Dave Bowman: I don't know what you're talking about, HAL?
HAL: I know you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
Dave Bowman: Where the hell'd you get that idea, HAL?
HAL: Dave, although you took thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.
[The satellite's] onboard planner reschedules what to film in conjunction with what the scientific algorithms have detected. This software has already detected floods in Australia and will be adapted to also detect volcano eruptions and changes in ice fields.
John Ashcroft has directed engineers at the National Security Agency to design algorithms to follow, in increasing order of priority, the movements of terrorists, dissidents, persons engaged in the sin of dancing, and calico cats.
Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
Currently, satellites take pictures of whatever is in front of their cameras.
and will continue to do so for a long time.
mmmmmmm... lusting after overclocked mobos outside of their cases wanting to do a little bit of Software EXchange but only being able to do single player mode... ;p
Base: "Err..., we're getting a little bit of unexpected orbital variation in the new satellite and I can't tell it to point its detectors away from the intermediate hardware production plants..."
So.
When does SkyNet become self-aware?
Between this story and the one the immediately preceded it, was anyone else thinking SkyNET? Or another summer movie?
V GER.
The problem with satellites is it's not like you can just climb down into the bomb bay and turn them on to existentialism and hope they'll convince themselves they don't exist so they'll disarm.
Will it locate Sarah Connor?
Snowden and Manning are heroes.
Literally.
Lets hope the developers of this new smart technology dont teach it pleasure or mission control will be given an error code while it silently records nude beaches and voyeur material. The next paparazzi may be a mechanical one. Hide the children, the satellite is coming!
-Rights? What rights?