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NASA Is Making New Robots That Can Control Themselves (vice.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Motherboard: NASA wants humans and robots to work together as teams. To ensure that, the space agency's autonomous robotics group is currently developing new technology to improve how humans explore the solar system, and how robots can help. When NASA began working with remotely operated robots several years ago, Fong said the scientists needed a piece of software that would allow them to look at terrain and sensor data coming from autonomous robots. That led to the creation of VERVE, a "3D robot user interface," which allows scientists to see and grasp the three-dimensional world of remotely operated robots. VERVE has been used with NASA's K10 planetary rovers (a prototype mobile robot that can travel bumpy terrain), with its K-Rex planetary rovers (robot to determine soil moisture), with SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) on the International Space Station (ISS), and with the new robot Astrobee (a robot that can fly around the ISS). In 2013, NASA carried out a series of tests with astronauts on the ISS, during which astronauts who were flying 200 miles above Earth remotely operated the K10 planetary rover in California. Because of time delay, astronauts can't just "joystick a robot," said Maria Bualat, deputy lead of intelligent robotics group at the NASA Ames Research Center. "You need a robot that can operate on its own, complete tasks on its own," she said. "On the other hand, you still want the human in the loop, because the human brings a lot of experience and very powerful cognitive ability that can deal with issues that the autonomy's not quite ready to handle." That's why, according to NASA, human capabilities and robotic capabilities comprise a powerful combination.
I can finally replace my dog.
This can only end well...
I'm sure other places like china or Russia or Europe are also doing big great and interesting things, I t would Be nice if we had a few stories from them as well...
When they're heading out to explore the far reaches of the solar system, it's vital that any robot passengers be able to control themselves during the long trip because if they can't control themselves NASA WILL TURN THIS ROCKET AROUND RIGHT NOW!
#DeleteChrome
Never mind. I, for one, welcome our new robotic overlords.
You mean like an autonomous robot?
I think the first one is called Hal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_That_Rabbit
The recurring team of Powell and Donovan are testing a new model of robot on an asteroid mining station. This model has six subsidiary robots, described as "fingers", which it controls via positronic fields, a means of transmission not yet fully understood by roboticists. When the humans are not in contact, the robot stops producing ore. It cannot recall the time periods when it stops mining, and states that it finds this just as puzzling as the humans do.
Robots That Can Control Themselves
That's one step above muslims. They are always complaining that people make them do violent things by drawing cartoons, saying that they are not peaceful, suggesting that killing gays is wrong, and so on.
Make it fucking president, then.
I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
Still, the public perception is that NASA's budget is far more than it actually is.
True. And yet ironically much of the public thinks we don't spend enough on our military despite it accounting for close to a quarter of the national budget and is . $597B in 2015 alone which is more than China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, France, UK, India and Germany COMBINED. Interestingly the US military budget is very close to the same amount as our annual deficit which also is right around $600B. So we are borrowing the entire US military budget every year and forcing future generations to pay for it. Talk about misplaced priorities.
Hasn't anyone watched a sci-fi movie in the past 20 years?
"Give someone a program, frustrate them for a day... Teach someone to program, frustrate them for a lifetime."
"remotely operated robots" are NOT robots any more than one of those remotely controlled model airplanes is a robot.
Real robots are programmed to control themselves and do NOT require a human to operate them.
Read some of the works by Isaac Asimov for an education.
Wow, someone really wanted that thing to be named "SPHERES".
There have been several discussions around a Mars colonization project but the challenges around how long it takes to get there with current propulsion technology and the human lifespan seem to present challenges. Perhaps with sophisticated enough robots, we could send them instead? That would be neat!
We'll make great pets
I feel relief. I keep seeing stories that Al is going to be in control of our robots. Presumably this is Al Gore. I would much rather that our killer robot overlords be able to operate freely with no one in control of them than to be under the will of Al.
I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
If humans will be working with "robots that can control themselves", we'll need humans that can also control themselves.
These robots solved the maze. Arnold and Dr. Ford will be proud.
Trolling is a art,
We are giving robots to much power and intelligence. Do we not think what will happen when they actually outsmarten us. Will robots control humans. Almost like the next terminator movie. We were warned by Hollywood. ... then he became the governor
Thanks Hal from www.tvbracketwarehouse.com.au