Curiosity Rover Being Upgraded With Autonomous Sensor Program

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Curiosity Rover Being Upgraded With Autonomous Sensor Program

Posted by Unknown on Tuesday September 25, 2012 @12:04AM from the intelligent-agents-strike-back dept.

DevotedSkeptic writes "Curiosity will be getting a software upgrade called Autonomous Exploration for Gathering Increased Science (AEGIS) which will allow it to take on the go photos to save precious time while exploring our red neighbor. Another interesting feature AGEIS may be able to provide is the ability for Curiosity to call home when it sees something interesting. It won't be a quick upgrade: AEGIS, which has been used on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity since 2009, will be installed on Curiosity in the next nine to 12 months, Estlin said in an interview with InformationWeek. The AEGIS software, developed by JPL, was named NASA's 'software of the year' in 2011. Opportunity uses the software to take a wide-angle image with a low-resolution camera, then picks out rocks in the image to see if there's something of interest. If so, it takes a high-resolution image using an on-board science camera that's capable of zooming in on the subject. The software has potential beyond picture taking. Its see-and-react code could be adapted to other instruments." There's a paper on the software as used in the Opportunity rover.

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language by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 00:10 · Score: 2, Insightful

increased science, what does that even mean?
1. Re:language by jellomizer · 2012-09-25 00:14 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  It means more time doing actual science and less time waiting and looking at the boring stuff. Ok we did all the test we could on this rock. Ok lets find a different type of rock. Ok Lets do paper rock scissors on who gets to do analysis on the data and who will sit in front of the screen while the rover is moving to find a new type of rock.
  
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  If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
2. Re:language by Trepidity · 2012-09-25 00:21 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Science is sort of like Vespene gas, found naturally on Mars but can only be gathered with certain equipment.
  
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  10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
3. Re:language by Intrepid+imaginaut · 2012-09-25 00:26 · Score: 2
  
  The backronym is bad enough, but where can I get me one of these "science cameras"?
4. Re:language by K.+S.+Kyosuke · 2012-09-25 01:05 · Score: 1
  
  increased science, what does that even mean?
  It means that as of now, it can shoot down alien spacecrafts with SM-2 Standard Missiles and an on-board CIWS Phalanx system for further analysis.
  
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  Ezekiel 23:20
5. Re:language by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 04:16 · Score: 0
  
  "No one know what it means, but it's provocative!"
Software updating on Mars... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 00:11 · Score: 4, Funny

Think bricking your phone was bad..
1. Re:Software updating on Mars... by nospam007 · 2012-09-25 00:25 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  It's Patch Tuesday on Mars too.
2. Re:Software updating on Mars... by K.+S.+Kyosuke · 2012-09-25 01:26 · Score: 2
  
  But is it a Mars Tuesday or an Earth Tuesday? And what happens when they mix it up one day?
  
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  Ezekiel 23:20
Why not load it from the start? by Comboman · 2012-09-25 00:17 · Score: 4, Insightful

It won't be a quick upgrade, AEGIS, which has been used on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity since 2009, will be installed on Curiosity in the next nine to 12 months
Curiosity launched on November 26, 2011. If Opportunity has been using AEGIS since 2009, why couldn't it have been included in Curiosity from the start instead of this 12 month download over a slow connection? It's bad enough that video game companies push stuff out the door and then rely on release-day patches but I expect better from NASA.

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1. Re:Why not load it from the start? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 00:27 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  The OS was used for landing the rover. It won't be doing that anymore.
2. Re:Why not load it from the start? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 00:30 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  ...If Opportunity has been using AEGIS since 2009, why couldn't it have been included in Curiosity from the start instead of this 12 month download over a slow connection? It's bad enough that video game companies push stuff out the door and then rely on release-day patches but I expect better from NASA.
  Simple. To save weight. Them bits are heavy, cheaper to send them via radio than launch them with the craft.
3. Re:Why not load it from the start? by speckman · 2012-09-25 00:52 · Score: 1
  
  I was wondering this too. They already knew it worked great ON MARS before they sent this. So uh, install it when it takes a second instead of a year? Seems like a no-brainer. So there must be something missing here because I'm pretty sure the folk at JPL have brains... big ones.
4. Re:Why not load it from the start? by DerekLyons · 2012-09-25 01:31 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Curiosity launched on November 26, 2011. If Opportunity has been using AEGIS since 2009, why couldn't it have been included in Curiosity from the start instead of this 12 month download over a slow connection?
  Off the top of my head, I can think of two reasons. First, until it landed Curiosity's computer served as the flight control computer and didn't even have it's full surface/science package installed. That's what the big software upgrade right after landing was all about - to clear out the flight control package and replace it with the surface/science routines. Second, I suspect they want some operational experience (on Opportunity) with the new system and some experience (on Curiosity) with the basic surface/science software package and some idea of how the hardware performs before committing to a new system. Odds are that Curiosity's baseline was frozen in 2010, long before sufficient information existed to write (let alone trust) the new software.
  
  Such a slow rollout is pretty common outside of commercial (consumer) software - because the costs of getting it wrong are so high. Especially in the case of something like Curiosity, which is a huge o' dollars of irreplaceable hardware with a limited lifespan and one shot at getting the science data. This isn't Ice Jelly Gummy Doughnut Candy with the fanboi's whining and pissing and moaning because their perfectly good hardware doesn't have the latest bling and threatening to move to another computer/phone/toy. FWIW, the software for the system I worked on in the Navy typically spent six months to a year installed on a trainer, followed by another six months installed on one or two hulls before committing it to the entire Fleet.
  
  Also, the article notes that it will be installed in, not over, the next nine to twelve months. Given that they replaced nearly the entire software package right after landing, the bandwidth available is more than sufficient to the task. Even so, they'll likely make use of most of that bandwidth on the important tasks of getting the science down rather than the secondary task of installing non essential software upgrades.
  
  It's bad enough that video game companies push stuff out the door and then rely on release-day patches but I expect better from NASA.
  Everything is easy to those that don't have to do the work and aren't accountable for the results.
5. Re:Why not load it from the start? by tolgyesi · 2012-09-25 01:32 · Score: 2
  
  Due to the high radiation, they can not use high density memory chips. At first the landing control software filled it completely. Only after the landing did they replace it with the drivers for the motors and cameras so it could start moving. I suppose the actual upload does not need so much time, it must be a lot of hacking on the software in the meantime, testing and approval.
6. Re:Why not load it from the start? by oldwarrior · 2012-09-25 01:53 · Score: 0
  
  Yes but Verizon has decided to wait for the next Motorola Rover model to allow the version upgrade before grudgingly allowing the Samsung Galaxy Nexus Rover model to enjoy the benefits of the award winning upgrade. A Verizon spokesperson explained that this decision is in line with established business models and Nasa users should not be upset.
  
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  If it were done when 'tis done, then t'were well it were done quickly... MacBeth
7. Re:Why not load it from the start? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 02:03 · Score: 1
  
  also : Bricking Curiosity 1 year from now would hardly be a mainstream news so they are not giving Congress a stick to beat them up with.
8. Re:Why not load it from the start? by dadelbunts · 2012-09-25 04:10 · Score: 1
  
  Probably because it wasnt ready yet? Its safer to iron the bugs out here on earth than bricking your rover on Mars. Would you rather have waited 12 months for them to launch once they got all the bugs worked out?
9. Re:Why not load it from the start? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 04:57 · Score: 0
  
  And you don't think doing an over-the-air update via a low-bandwidth, high-latency radio connection also risks bricking the rover?
10. Re:Why not load it from the start? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 05:00 · Score: 0
  
  And you don't think they'll upload full patch first, and then verify integrity and install it?
What could possibly go wrong?! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 00:33 · Score: 0

"Its see-and-react code could be adapted to other instruments."
Sure... Other "instruments"... You mean, like a *gun*? :-O
Oh yeah "Ooh, aah", that's how it always starts. But then there's running and screaming.
good news for @SadMarsRover by veganboyjosh · 2012-09-25 00:34 · Score: 2

Does this mean that @SadMarsRover will be able to get his instagram on again?
Fire more drones!! by lexsird · 2012-09-25 00:40 · Score: 0

I say fire more drones!!! Let's get a Tonka set over there. Someone float me a couple of billion dollars. I will set us up some Tonka toys over there. Hell yeah, they will pay for themselves pronto. Rent time out on them to uber rich people. AND do some major exploration and set up some communications arrays. We need broadband there, right? And the moon. Moon Base Tonkas as well.
Look, we need the entire race of humans putting some funtime facetime in on drone control. Human minds are some awesome things. Cheap and seriously resilient to harsh environments. We have to think out of this box called Earth, quickly because WTF was that which just went blazing by?

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1. Re:Fire more drones!! by dontclapthrowmoney · 2012-09-25 01:14 · Score: 1
  
  Not sure if I agree or disagree with anything you said - just wanted to make the observation that NASA et al would definitely get more public funding if they used the words like Tonka more, especially if combined with standard advertising prefixes - maybe "Tonka Mega Launch System"?
  No one male would object to slightly higher taxes or a one-off levy to pay for that.
  It would make more sense than continually reusing names - according to the wiki, AEGIS is a military system, was the original OS on the Apollo missions, and the name has a bunch existing tech and non-tech uses.
  I know there has been some mention of them reusing the name Orion recently - I think it was the Apollo command module that was called Columbia? They need to stop letting the nerds name stuff, maybe hire some marketing people from the toy industry.
2. Re:Fire more drones!! by dontclapthrowmoney · 2012-09-25 01:16 · Score: 2
  
  OK I just realised I suggested hiring a marketing person for something. Please accept my sincere apologies.
3. Re:Fire more drones!! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 02:28 · Score: 0
  
  It's ok. They'll hire a social media expert, and next project will be called Launchr.
  It will extensively leverage crowdsourcing for advanced user engagement, which will allow it to disruptively penetrate new markets^Wplanetary orbits.
  That is, after spending all the money on project's design, they'll have to hire chinese acrobats to build a human tower to push it into space.
4. Re:Fire more drones!! by dontclapthrowmoney · 2012-09-25 02:34 · Score: 1
  
  How much would it cost them to license the name iLaunchr, and use rounded corners?
  (Maybe they can just outsource development to Samsung instead.)
5. Re:Fire more drones!! by cusco · 2012-09-25 03:50 · Score: 1
  
  IIRC, the reason that giant strip mining equipment looks like Tonka toys is because the original designer was considering what his mega-dump truck should look like, saw his kids toys and used that for inspiration. Might be fun to see if Tonka, Lego and Mattel were interested in sponsoring part of a moon rover based on their toys.
  
  --
  "Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
Just wondering by Chrisq · 2012-09-25 00:42 · Score: 2

Is there some form of "reset to factory defaults" option that is non-programmable - i.e. built into the firmware? I would imagine that it is a real nail-biting time for the developers if there is a possibility of bricking a mars rover!
1. Re:Just wondering by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 01:21 · Score: 0
  
  Even better, it has redundant computers. Take one off-line, install it on that, and test it. If it works, take the other off-line and install. It should only be a problem if the update somehow means the computer cannot give back control to the working computer. I don't know how they make sure that cannot happen.
rocks by jamesh · 2012-09-25 00:53 · Score: 5, Funny

"Hi NASA, I heard you like rocks so I took this picture of a rock. Hope it's good. Tell me if you want me to take a photo if I see another alien" - Curiosity
Cartoon by ScaledLizard · 2012-09-25 01:15 · Score: 2

http://www.heise.de/ct/schlagseite/2012/19/gross.jpg
Translation: Water! Water! Sensors detect a waterlike substance! And where there's water, there could be life, too ...
Too much information by wonkey_monkey · 2012-09-25 01:27 · Score: 1

I was going to joke that they couldn't install it before launch because it took them this long to come up with the acronym.

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systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
A thinking, autonomous robot by ALeader71 · 2012-09-25 01:41 · Score: 1, Funny

So NASA has created an autonomous robot with nacent thinking capabilities. Did I mention the laser? Good thing this is on Mars! Robocolipses start this way.

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Only the dead have seen the end of War. - Plato
1. Re:A thinking, autonomous robot by R3d+M3rcury · 2012-09-25 06:40 · Score: 1
  
  2013: After a Software Update to the Curiosity Rover, the Rover begins acting independently of NASA's control. All attempts to reset the rover fail.
  2035: The first manned mission to Mars lands successfully.
  Curiosity has been waiting...
  Okay, it's sort of a rip-off of Red Planet. Maybe add in a little Star Trek: The Motion Picture as Curiosity dismantles the various other landers on Mars for parts or something.
Dodged a bullet (or 2)... by slew · 2012-09-25 03:17 · Score: 2

Sigh-of-relief... My first reading of this was, maybe Nasa was reusing Aegis for some sort of swords/plowshares purpose to somehow to control the rover. I guess that isn't the case, and it's just a fancy name for Rover-software 2.0...
The reason that rang a bell with me was a bit of trivia I remembered. One of the first deployed Aegis system was the USS Yorktown. Apparently, the Aegis software was deployed on WindowNT which of course had lots of stability problems. Also the system software itself wasn't that great. For example, when someone accidentally entered some bad data, it caused a divide-by-zero error which caused the software to crash and the ship had to be towed back into port. I think Curiosity would have a hard time being "towed" back to port...
Fortunatly, it isn't the same software, but Nasa has a propensity to tempt fate with unlucky symbols (Apollo 13, Challenger). Let's hope this isn't one of those times...
1. Re:Dodged a bullet (or 2)... by DerekLyons · 2012-09-25 05:04 · Score: 1
  
  the Aegis software was deployed on WindowNT which of course had lots of stability problems. Also the system software itself wasn't that great. For example, when someone accidentally entered some bad data, it caused a divide-by-zero error which caused the software to crash and the ship had to be towed back into port.
  Not only does the AEGIS system not run on PC hardware, it doesn't control the ship either.
2. Re:Dodged a bullet (or 2)... by R3d+M3rcury · 2012-09-25 06:47 · Score: 1
  
  [...] Nasa has a propensity to tempt fate with unlucky symbols (Apollo 13, Challenger).
  Apollo 13, okay. But Challenger?
  I always thought Discovery wasn't the best choice of names...
I has too many feels! by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · 2012-09-25 03:35 · Score: 1

Why doesn't NASA just buy that motivation engine from Lucas Arts? That way, if the damned thing rolls off a cliff it will try to grab onto something. Hell, it probably won't even get near the edge in the first place, getting a funny scared feeling in its wiener.

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It begins by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 04:06 · Score: 0

Scanning...
Scanning...
Object found...
"Enhance"
New and Improved Rover by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 06:38 · Score: 0

Now with 50% more Science!
JPL developed AEGIS on Linux .. by dgharmon · 2012-09-25 07:46 · Score: 1

"JPL developed AEGIS on Linux-based systems, then tested the software on research rovers" .. link

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Can be applied to other instruments... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 10:01 · Score: 0

Fire laser at everything, listen for screams!
Software upgrade to hardware on Mars... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-25 20:42 · Score: 0

Whatever you guys do, just don't brick that motherfucker. It'll be really hard to take it in to get it reset!