This Is Not Your Father's Moon Buggy

NASA ^ | 09/06/05 | Kelly Humphries

[KevinDavis]

This Is Not Your Father's Moon Buggy

When humans return to the Moon and venture beyond, they’ll get around using "smart" rovers that do much more than move cargo.

The single-use rovers of the past will be replaced by multi-use planetary rovers that are full-fledged members of "EVA squads," humans and robots working together. The rovers will be able to transport both astronauts and equipment, follow verbal commands and hand signals, take direction by wireless remote control, act as communication and video relay stations and carry extra supplies. They'll even be able to do some work autonomously or with other robots.

That's the focus of ongoing research by NASA's Science Crew Operations and Utility Testbed (SCOUT) project. Although lunar rovers were used on three Apollo missions, significantly expanding the exploration range of the astronauts, more capable vehicles will be needed to support the build-up, maintenance and exploration envisioned for prolonged lunar and Martian surface missions.

[KevinDavis]

[petercooper]

[cripplecreek]

Well that's disturbing.

[wolfpat]

NASA has some of the worst writers in the universe.
...humans and robots working together
Duh! Isn't that why we invented them?

[sheik yerbouty]

That's a moon bugger..

[SERKIT]

Thanks for reposting the the now famous photo of Kerry's medical treatment for terminal flatulence.

[MarkeyD]

What's the point of a press release of a moon buggy without a photo?

[Colonial Warrior]

Now I know where he got his load of campaign ideas...