ELECTRIC WORD
Will NASA's next small step for man be taken by robots? That's what the scientists behind the Robotic Work Crew think. Unlike the Pathfinder, which explored Mars by itself, these rovers toil side by side to move objects - like this long beam or, say, a photovoltaic cell - that no single rover could manipulate alone. The networked bots receive their basic marching orders from NASA but carry out the projects autonomously. They are programmed with simple functions such as lifting and grasping, as well as more complex behaviors that allow them to act as a team, like handling load compensation and making decisions. NASA envisions that the crew will construct power stations, prefab shelters, and other facilities on Mars, in preparation for human arrival. Though they're already being tested in the Jet Propulsion Lab, these hard hats won't go to work for at least 20 years.
ELECTRIC WORD
The Good, The Bad, and The Evil
Light Reading
Picture Window
Rear Projection
The Red Team
Stunt Double
