Before the year 2020, scientists are expected to launch intelligent space robots that will venture out to explore the universe for us.
"Robotic exploration probably will always be the trail blazer for human
exploration of far space," says Wolfgang Fink, physicist and researcher at Caltech. "We haven't yet landed a human
being on Mars but we have a robot there now. In that sense, it's much
easier to send a robotic explorer. When you can take the human out of
the loop, that is becoming very exciting."
While Fink is encouraged by the progress made by missions such as
the Mars Phoenix and its robotic arm, he emphasizes that the link
between human and robot needs to be eliminated, allowing robots to
make their own decisions on what science needs to be carried out. In
reference to the Phoenix's robotic arm he said, "The arms are the
tools,
but it's about the intent to move the arms. That's what we're after. To
have the robot know that something there is interesting and that's
where it needs to go and then to go get a sample from it. That's what
we've after. You want to get rid of the joystick, in other words. You
want the system to take control of itself and then basically use its
own tools to explore."
The physicist said he envisions a time when humans send out intelligent
probes to explore the far reaches of the universe and send information
back to Earth - without having to send people on excruciatingly long
and dangerous space missions.
"In the old Star Wars movies, especially in the Empire Strikes Back,
the empire was sending out probes or floating robots," said Fink.
"Those were ideal robotic explorers because they floated over planets
and had sensors and communication capabilities. Once you venture out to
other planets, you need something that can operate on its own. You
can't monitor and supervise every single step. You want to deploy
something that, on its own, can start a reconnaissance of the area and
report back."
The key attribute robots need to possess is the ability to recognize
something of interest, such as a rock or crater, something that a human
mind would see as a scientific opportunity. At Caltech, Fink and others
are working on programs that use images for robots to distinguish
colors, textures, shapes and obstacles. Once artificial intelligence
has the ability to do this, if the programming is complex enough, the
robot can notice something that is out of place, or a region worth
investigating (such as a strangely coloured patch of Mars regolith that
a Mars robot will decide to dig into).
The researchers also are working on a wish list of sorts for the
spacecraft. The list would include things that NASA and university
scientists would like the robot to investigate. "It's very difficult to
teach a spacecraft," said Fink. "When a geologist goes into the field,
they can tell you if they see something that sparks their interest.
Based on that interest, it triggers more refined research. But the
problem is if you encounter something that scientists had not foreseen,
then you run the risk of not detecting it We'll equip it with a
database and a wish list, along with the ability to flag an anomaly."
Fink said NASA has shown some interest in their work. And that makes
sense since NASA is planning an unmanned mission to Titan, Saturn's
largest moon, around 2017. The CalTech physicist explained that an
orbiter would most likely release a balloon-type vehicle that would
float above the surface of the moon and send its findings back to Earth.
"It takes more than hour to send communications back and forth to a
space probe at Saturn or Titan," said Fink. "It is not a problem so
much if you are dealing with a Lander, which is immobile, or when
you're dealing with a rover which is not moving too fast. It becomes a
significant problem if you deploy a balloon or air ship on Titan, let's
say. They are floating so you need a much quicker reaction time. If
there's a mountain or hill coming up, you need to make a decision right
there and then.
The main question is will robotic missions trump our basic human desire to explore space via manned missions?
Posted by Casey Kazan.
http://www.universetoday.com/2008/07/28/by-2020-droids-will-explore-space-for-us/
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