NASA tests cellphone-sized underwater robots for future ocean world missions (video)

[Admin]

Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory recently tested prototypes of miniature, self-propelled robots designed to explore the hidden oceans of distant moons like Europa, Jupiter's icy moon.

NASA tests cellphone-sized underwater robots for future ocean world missions (video) : Read more

 

[Timeotek]

I propose that what we need are thousands of "fishing bots" that are controlled remotely by VIDEO GAME PLAYERS. For decades, some people have said "video games are nothing but a waste of time", and dismiss the skills that are required to excell as unimportant... but with the right tech, such people could have the "job" of "catching fish" for public consumption while never leaving their own homes.
- individualized control of these "sharkbots" could enable us to catch fish efficiently (possibly alive) WITHOUT the huge amount of collateral damage (i.e. things killed accidently) that current fishing techniques often cause.
- add in some prizes for top performers, and I think there would be many interested potential pilots.
- yes, onsite people would still be needed to maintain the sharkbot fleet, which would probably have a central "command center" on a nearby giant ship, that would recharge the batteries and/or fuel tanks.

 

[Unclear Engineer]

I think you would find that the prey fish are more agile than the game players, given the lag between the suburban basements and the bots in the ocean.

Maybe use drone pilots who are actually aboard the ship, with direct radio links to the bots for video and control.

Hope you don't get seasick.

 

[Timeotek]

I think you would find that the prey fish are more agile than the game players, given the lag between the suburban basements and the bots in the ocean.

Maybe use drone pilots who are actually aboard the ship, with direct radio links to the bots for video and control.

Hope you don't get seasick.

Sea sickness is generally attributed to the up and down motion of floating crafts (due to waves), however it is true that some people get "VR sickness", but presumably those people would not apply.

Your point about net lag is also valid, but it is also true that gamers learn to anticipate net lag while playing and learn to adapt to a large degree. The bots could also have mini harpoons, sonic stun cannons , or other gadgets to make up for the reaction lag.

 

[Unclear Engineer]

You see to have missed the point that the "drivers" of your submarine bots would need to be on the boats, to avoid the lag time for signals to be sent from their basements to the satellites and then to another satellite and then to the boat.

So, they might very well get sea sick. Sea sickness is usually associated with people feeling motion and not being able to see the horizon, such as when below decks, especially if working with artificial images that don't match the motions felt.

I think you need to get out of the basement more often, to see how the real world actually works.

Nets are far cheaper and more energy efficient than swarms of submarine bots driven by basement dwellers on the far end of high tech communications links.

But, if you disagree, you could try to prove me wrong by starting a company and doing what you propose. Let me know when you get rich from the scheme.

 

[Classical Motion]

Would such a strategy work for mosquito control? The numbers say no, just like for fish. Only a net can meet the demand. And there are always tares in any harvest.

We know the ocean can support much more because of past records. So much, many thought is was non ending.