NASA Testing Linux-Based Exploration Robots

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."

Comments

Re:less worry about radiation on a planet?

[Speare]

One, this is a development model. Hardware subject to upgrade when making a "real" unit after the software achieves a basic level of maturity.

Two, you don't need a rad-hardened processor if you can wrap the whole computing unit in a rad-hardened box. Same goes for putting ice cubes in your freezer; if the fridge's materials and power units can withstand a thermal bombardment from the outside, the ice cube inside will remain solid.

Also check out ATHLETE

[ScottMaxwell]

At least one of the other robots participating in the test, ATHLETE, is also Linux-based (PPC CPUs, incidentally, not x86). How do I know? I'm writing part of the software we're using to drive it -- by adapting RSVP, the software we wrote to drive the MER rovers -- so I actually got to go out there and drive ATHLETE around for a few days as part of this test.

I love my job.

ATHLETE is one of the coolest damn things I've seen in a long time, designed and built by a team of absolutely brilliant engineers. Think of a two-meter-tall six-legged metal spider on roller skates. Or, heck, just check the link above.

The current ATHLETE is a prototype (of course); the ones we send to the moon -- if we're selected -- will be twice that size. Yes, Slashdotters, welcome our four-meter-tall six-legged roller-skate-wearing metal spider overlords!

For additional coverage of K-10, ATHLETE, Centaur/Robonaut, and other vehicles participating in this test, check out the updates from JSC.