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Posts Tagged “

athlete

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robots

NASA's ATHLETE Hex-Legged Lunar Robots Now Work in Pairs

We've shown you NASA's neat ATHLETE robots before and it looks like the little hexapod machines have been getting more sophisticated. This vid of two ATHLETEs collaborating to lift a heavy habitat load onto the ground sent faint Matrix-esque shivers down my spine. NASA is taking development of the robots seriously, as it turns out their multiple-wheeled dexterity make them perfect for carrying mobile habitats across the rocky, uneven lunar terrain. They've even been discussed in the most recent mission planning, so they really might be trotting-rolling across the Moon's surface in a short bunch of years. Next up for ATHLETE: a mock mobile lunar base trial. [NASA and New Scientist]

5:00 PM on Fri Apr 4 2008
By Kit Eaton
2,980 views, 24 comments

Latest by 1roll20s: That's pretty cool. Space robots are slow. They need to run off solar cells, or very limited low output power supplies. They also have to be built to handle extremely long input lag. more »

nasa

One of These Days, ATHLETE... Bang! Zoom! Straight to the Moon (Video)

ATHLETE, NASA's "All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer," was designed for lunar cargo hauling with expertise in hernia-free crouch and lift. A pair of cameras mounted on each of its six sides provide full stereoscopic panoramic view of the lunar surface. The small wheels are used on hard terrain, but they can lock to become feet when the goin' gets rougher. Legs can become arms, and the motors used to control the wheel can also power claws, plows and drills. NASA plans to ship this baby skyward in a "decade or so." [NASA via Make]

10:35 AM on Wed Nov 7 2007
By Wilson Rothman
10,163 views, 29 comments

Latest by Patchouli: Actually this is even more innovative then it first sounds this could enable a moon base segment to drive off after landing and then dock it's self with the other modules yes real scifi self assembly. With this you could have more »