J
JonClarke
Guest
<p>Here is a challenge for all those roboticists out there. </p><p>A common claim is that robots are faster, cheaper, and better than humans for space exploration. Exactly what these robots are like is never specified, but they are apparently capable of extreme mobility, dexterity, adaptability, and flexibility, with near infinite power, immense sensor and analytical capabilities, and high levels of autonomy and creativity and able to resist all environmental extremes, all for quite modest mass requirements. As such they appear to be good candidates for technology-indistinguishable-from-magic, and have more in common with robots in the imagination of Isaac Asimov than actual machines currently in service, being developed, or conceivable with foreseeable technology.</p><p>In the real world robots are designed for specific missions with a particular set of capabilities. They need power, have to conform to mass limits, and their control systems need to be protected from environmental extremes of temperature, pressure, radiation, dust, etc. They carry specific tools and instruments and have set boundaries to their autonomy. Budgets set their own constraints on what can be done.</p><p>The claim that robots are faster, cheaper, and better than humans is often made specifically in connection with Mars missions. There have been extensive studies on the likely capabilities, power requirements, time frames, masses, and science and exploration capabilities of crewed Mars missions. There have been many studies on the requirements of human Mars missions, but very none that have produced the unmanned missions that can exceed what these crewed missions can deliver.</p><p>So here is my challenge to the proponents of the idea that robots are faster, cheaper, and better than humans for exploring the Martian surface. Design a mission (or series of missions) that can meet the following parameters:</p><p>1 Mission parameters</p><p>1.1 Likelihood of success – 97% <br /> <br />1.2 Distance</p><p>1.2.1 2000 km of traverses</p><p>1.2.2 100 km radius from landing site <br /> <br />1.3 Max depth drilled – 100 m <br /> <br />1.4 Total depth drilled 200 m <br /> <br />1.5 Mass returned samples – 400 kg </p><p>1.6 Mission duration</p><p>1.6.1 18 months prime mission </p><p>1.6.2 operational life - 5 years Mars surface, 10 years in orbit</p><p>1.7 Deploy 2 tonnes of scientific equipment on the Martian surface. </p><p>1.7 Discipline areas investigated </p><p>1.8.1 Geology</p><p>1.8.2 Geophysics </p><p>1.8.3 Geochemistry </p><p>1.8.4 Mineralogy </p><p>1.8.5 Glaciology </p><p>1.8.6 Hydrology </p><p>1.8.7 Meteorology </p><p>1.8.8 Aeronomy </p><p>1.8.9 Astrobiology </p><p>1.8.10 Astronomy </p><p>1.8.11 ISR potential</p><p>1.8.12 ISRU technology</p><p>1.8.13 Field engineering </p><p>1.8.14 Space systems engineering </p><p>1.8.15 Materials science </p><p>1.8.16 Microbiology</p><p>2 The conclusions must be expressed in terms of the following mission specifications:</p><p>2.1 Number of spacecraft required to complete the mission <br /> <br />2.2 Mass to carry out the mission (both mass in Mars orbit and on the martian surface) with 20% margin<br /> <br />2.3 Power requirements (including power requirements in Mars orbit and on the martian surface) with 20% margin<br /> <br />2.4 Time required to complete the mission </p><p>3.0 Only technology currently in service, under development or at the laboratory testbed stage can be used.</p><p><em>Note: the following research themes are commonly identified as being Mar of any mars missions but cannot be carried out withour human presence.</em></p><p><em>1.8.17 Plant growth and physiology</em></p><p><em>1.8.18 Physiology</em></p><p><em>1.8.19 Partial gravity adaptation</em></p><p><em>1.8.20 Radiation medicine </em></p><p><em>1.8.21 Nutrition and diet</em></p><p><em>1.8.22 Human factors</em><br /> <br />Jon</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em> Arthur Clarke</p> </div>