NASA Testing Linux-Based Exploration Robots

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NASA Testing Linux-Based Exploration Robots

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Friday September 15, 2006 @04:54AM from the penguinnnnnss-innnnn-spaaaace dept.

SeenOnSlash.com writes "This week NASA is testing a Linux-based lunar rover called K-10 in the Arizona desert. To cut costs and promote maintainability the K-10 runs Linux and uses commercial off-the-shelf parts where possible. The robot rover's control and communications system is based on an IBM Thinkpad X31 and attaches to subsystems with standard PC interfaces. Real-time tasks such as fine-grained motor control are offloaded to a distributed network of microcontroller-powered control boards. Maneuvers can be watched through a live webcam."

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Linux in space by product+byproduct · 2006-09-15 04:57 · Score: 5, Funny

Does it include a copy of the GPL? Aliens need to know that they are entitled to the source code if they find the probe.
1. Re:Linux in space by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-15 05:04 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Well, the little bastards didn't seem to need a license for the last probe they gave me :-(
2. Re:Linux in space by Aladrin · 2006-09-15 05:06 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  According to the GPL zealots, they aren't 'entitling' them, they are 'releasing them from copyright restrictions.'
  
  And you know, if they land here, we'll arrest them for it.
  
  --
  "If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
3. Re:Linux in space by Moby+Cock · 2006-09-15 05:13 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  From news story to butt joke in only two steps. Well done.
Boldly by Cisko+Kid · 2006-09-15 05:01 · Score: 1, Funny

To boldly go where no penguin has gone before...

--
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.- Douglas Adams
Drivers by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-15 05:03 · Score: 0, Funny

Good luck finding Linux drivers for this thing.
Awesome! by Si · 2006-09-15 05:07 · Score: 5, Funny

But does it run li... oh.

--

Why is it that many people who claim to support standards have such atrocious spelling and grammar?
1. Re:Awesome! by cashman73 · 2006-09-15 05:10 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Imagine what a beowulf cluster of these things could do!
2. Re:Awesome! by Midnight+Thunder · 2006-09-15 05:19 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Imagine what a beowulf cluster of these things could do!
  
  Thank you very much. I had just got over my fear of skynet. You just had to remind me didn't you?
  
  --
  Jumpstart the tartan drive.
Obligatory... by DittoBox · 2006-09-15 05:07 · Score: 4, Funny

But, does it run Windows?

--
Good. Cheap. Fast. Pick Two.
1. Re:Obligatory... by fobbman · 2006-09-15 07:32 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  No, but the one that crashed full-speed into Mars probably did.
OTS by faqmaster · 2006-09-15 05:10 · Score: 5, Funny

Off the shelf parts are prolly fine for the Arizona desert. For two years of hard radiation bombardment then two plus years of -100 C and a constant coating of fine dust - not so much. Linux, on the other hand, thanks to its GPL code should have no problem in space. Just
insmod hard-rad-i386-0.16
and then
modprobe cryo-chillin-i386-0.9
and it should be fine. Also, don't forget to update crontab with
10 4 1 * * /root/scripts/dustoff.sh >> /dev/null 2>&1

--
Are you...Are you some kind of genius?
No, ma'am, I'm just a regular Slashdot reader.
More importantly... by StressGuy · 2006-09-15 05:10 · Score: 4, Funny

Will SCO go to Mars to support their IP rights?

--
A goal is a dream with a deadline
1. Re:More importantly... by networkBoy · 2006-09-15 05:55 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Hopefully :-)
  
  --
  whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
I don't get it by $RANDOMLUSER · 2006-09-15 05:11 · Score: 2, Funny

Why don't they just use a MALP?

--
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
Moo by Chacham · 2006-09-15 05:14 · Score: 5, Funny

In other news, Richard Stallman slammed NASA for using GPL code, but not allowing everyone to pilot the robot or go on space mission.

In a statement released today, NASA has responded by offering to send Stallman to Mars.

--
Have you read my journal today?
My Theory by Mateo_LeFou · 2006-09-15 05:27 · Score: 3, Funny

NASA is so pitifully underbudgeted that none of these machines were Vista-ready anyway.

--
My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
Ooohhh....I can see it now... by StressGuy · 2006-09-15 05:47 · Score: 2, Funny

Application "Safely Land Vehicle on Mars" is not responding; Would you like to?

1) click "WAIT" to see if application responds before impact with planet's surface

2) click "FORCE QUIT" to stop application "Warning, you may lose some data"

3) Hit CNTRL-ALT-DEL frantically about 40 times followed by holding the power switch down until computer finally shuts down then restart. System should reboot after mandatory check of hard drive allowing you to try the application again.

4) start MS Word to quickly compose last will and testament?

--
A goal is a dream with a deadline
Re:Of course there is by Have+Blue · 2006-09-15 06:04 · Score: 4, Funny

Yeah, it's great that you can tweak your makefile to shave a few extra grams off the kernel here and there.
Re:Which distro? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-15 06:08 · Score: 1, Funny

For a lunar rover, it has to be Lunatix.