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Nexus S To Serve As Brain For 3 Robots Aboard the ISS
An anonymous reader writes "Given the NFC capabilities in Nexus S, NASA researchers are about to deploy them on the International Space Station. Two Nexus S phones will be installed in robotic floating orbs called Spheres (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites). They will be performing a variety of everyday tasks like taking inventory and inspecting equipment, which will free up the human crew members for other duties. Currently the Spheres are in testing mode, as the video shows, but are expected to be up and running by the end of the year."
But I thought we were still using Intel 80386SX chips in NASA cause apparently radiation hardening takes decades, but yet a consumer grade phone is fine?
either someone is full of shit on the radiation hardening, or that's one fucking amazing phone!
Nasa creates first special needs robots.
SPAAAAAAAAAACEEEE!
But I wonder if they are modified in any way. I would have thought that electronics that go into space had to be radiation-hardened and be produced with components that are more reliable / have tighter specs than what are used in consumer devices. Cool idea, though.
giggity
Now that lawsuit brought against Google for use of the name Nexus doesn't seem so frivolous.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/07/content_12772459.htm
I wonder what the bill is going to be like when they surpass the data cap.
I'm sure that at least some of this is just a way of advertising the Nexus S (And NASA getting some cash from that), but how damned good is this phone that it's better than just producing their own computer that can send/receive wireless signals?
I guess NASA is attempting to get cost effective by using mass produced components? Yeah, it's nice that they're possibly saving some cast on it, but it just feels...weird to me though.
Still not as weird (or sad) as back when I read a story about soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan begging their families at home to send them walkie talkies from radio shack/wal-mart though. Ah mass produced consumer goods, is there any government undertaking you *can't* make cheaper?
He wants his lightsaber practice sphere back.
Hope they don't get a "Force Close" toast in ISS
Aww, they even come in different colors like the eyebots in Portal. And that is a lot of piercings on their lead dev.
Uh, "if it looks roughly mouse-shaped according to my infra-red sensitive pit, eat it"? --Chris Burke 09-08-10
But I thought we were still using Intel 80386SX chips in NASA cause apparently radiation hardening takes decades, but yet a consumer grade phone is fine?
The jury is still out but the devices are being looked at for non-critical tasks - the shuttle mission that just went up includes two iPhones that have been certified to go into space, and will be tested there to see how they hold out against the radiation:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/iphone-space-shuttle/
Since components are similar across many devices, I'm sure if the iPhone can hold out the Android devices will be OK too.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa_p9Up9DFg#t=2m00
Hail Google! Hail Lord Google!
coding is life
Does this mean that cell phones are now safe enough to use on commercial aircraft?
Some of what I say is fact, some is conjecture, the rest I'm just blowing out my ass...you guess.
I couldn't resist
move along ...
It should be spelled Nexus 5, not Nexus S.
Less "sphere", more "d20". Roll Profession (astronaut).
It would be pretty great if the next line of Nexus phones were called Nexus 6 and then the ISS could update its robots brains to that too.
or, in this case a phone without a phone number.
I do not believe in karma. "Funny"=-6. Do good and forbid evil. Yours, Oft-Offtopic Flamebaiting Troll.
Kinda reminds me of "Haro" in form http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/Haro
Vader says: "Impressive!"
When the spheres aren't busy, the crew can pull the phones out to play Angry Birds.
That should be SPHERESs then.
Shouldn't it be SPHERES ? I'm not going to require you to write S.P.H.E.R.E.S. , but at least use all-caps so I can tell which one you're referring to. The word "sphere" is already taken. :P
Hate to be a grammar nazi but this is pretty basic stuff, actually affects how it reads...
GCS/MU/P d- s:- a-- C++++$ UL++ P+ L++ E+ W++ N o K- w--- O M+ V- PS+++ PE Y+ PGP t+ 5- X R++ tv+ b++ DI++ D++ G+ e++ h-
companion cubes for astronauts?
My God can beat up your God. Just kidding...don't take offense. I know there's no God.
Oh my goodness. Shut me down! Androids controlling Robots. Hmm. How perverse.
Love how this is a frontage story, but the fact that the shuttle Atlantis took off today with two iPhone 4s running SpaceLab goes unreported. Reminds me of how it's constantly mentioned that Android has passed iOS in marketshare when that only counts smartphones--with iPods and iPads counted, iOS far surpasses Android as the #1 mobile operating system.
But, this is Slashdot, which means that not only will these facts never get reported, but I'll get voted down for pointing them out in the first place. All hail Google.
Well, they like acronyms, and the robots are kind of spherical. I have to call this one a little fake though; it seems like they WANTED to name them 'spheres', and put whatever words to get them there- as opposed to some clever moments of the past involving acronyms that where keeping it real.
Incidently, who cares; there is no more Space Shuttle.
The three laws of thermodynamics:(1) You can't win. (2) You can't break even. (3) You can't even quit.
I just do eyes...
If Nasa starts using android, it is likely will end up paying Microsoft for patent infringement
ISS is in low Earth orbit, below the Van Alan belts. The radiation environment isn't that severe. A study performed in the early 90's found that off the shelf electronics were fine for LEO. For geosync and higher orbits, minor shielding was needed to achieve reliable operation.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=6&sqi=2&ved=0CE4QFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Frsta.royalsocietypublishing.org%2Fcontent%2F361%2F1802%2F193.full.pdf&rct=j&q=low%20earth%20orbit%20radiation%20environment&ei=BmgXTrarKIa0sAPB3s3uDQ&usg=AFQjCNHCt82GlFwEYW4z90dov1umXWOh_Q&sig2=O5-vlK7lpRbKEBSzrgSSsw&cad=rja
Nexus-class androids are cleared for off-world use. They're only banned on Earth.
Geeks are so full of shit that "beating the crap out of them" takes a whole new meaning.
skynet is born, game over man.
I know I am mixing my sci fi metaphors.
It starts with a guy not being able to name what the acronym stands for and then shows the lead scientist who seems to be a facial piercings enthusiast.
As a big Silent Running fan I'm happy to know Huey, Dewey and Louie are a reality.
Ohmygodohmygodohmygod! I’m in space!
Space? SPACE!
I’m in space.
Where am I? Guess. Guess guess guess. I’m in space.
Sounds quite a bit like a Keno from SGU.
The robots aren't doing anything important. The 386 chips are probably in something a little more critical than a floating robot inventory-taker.
Clearly the robots are laying the groundwork for the Robot Revolution as we speak. They'll just let the radiation kill all the humans on board while the floating robospheres of death laugh mechanically at all the photons that pass harmlessly through them. One shudders to think what the robospheres could do with a space station and several human corpses in low Earth orbit!
Can you hear me now?
Most human behaviour can be explained in terms of identity.
Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites -> SPHERE
NASA - To boldly backronym where no sane human being has ever dared to backronym before.
Makes me cringe, laugh and stand in bedazzled amazement, all at the same time.
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
behave like a sphere like this.
Are you talking shit about Dr. Ball M.D.? He's a doctor not a savage. That was a flu shot! Good Day Sir!
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