NASA plans new robot generation

Our current Robot technology is no where near good enough for the type of on sight research that can be done by a Human at the same location. Robots are nice tool's for helping man. But they are not, and can not be a replacement. Communications link delays alone make this idea Bad.

Our current Robot technology is no where near good enough for the type of on sight research that can be done by a Human at the same location. Robots are nice tool's for helping man. But they are not, and can not be a replacement. Communications link delays alone make this idea Bad. Hi Rog;While you are absolutly correct that robots could never replace manned missins to these places but the next generation of robots would be so much more advanced that they certianly would be able to perform many of the things that man could do, Of course radoio transmision time would end in a result of delayed ... [More]

I definitely think advanced robotic capability will be able to do a great deal, and I'm all for it. However, I also think that there is nothing comparable to a human mind, with articulating hands and observing eyes, and possessed of honed technical and observational skills. None of those things, nor the ability of a trained human to react on-the-fly and improvise, will ever be exceeded by any machine. We can only go so far with robotic exploration. Humans on site will take us the rest of the way.

I definitely think advanced robotic capability will be able to do a great deal, and I'm all for it. However, I also think that there is nothing comparable to a human mind, with articulating hands and observing eyes, and possessed of honed technical and observational skills. None of those things, nor the ability of a trained human to react on-the-fly and improvise, will ever be exceeded by any machine. We can only go so far with robotic exploration. Humans on site will take us the rest of the way. As always MID,you have the most common explanation of all,Although there are still things that wou... [More]

When used properly, robots can be a great aid to cost-effectiveness in space exploration, or any sort of exploration. You send robots out to scour everything you can see and when you actually find something that warrants human attention, send the people up there so they can do further checking. It's actually rather irresponsible on a cost, safety and environmental standpoint to have humans be the first wave of explorers.

It's actually rather irresponsible on a cost, safety and environmental standpoint to have humans be the first wave of explorers. Which is why they never have been in the space age. You are arguing for the situation that has always existed. Sputnik before Gagarin. Ranger and Lunar Orbiter before Apollo. Myriad probes to Mars already and robotic explores have already been dispatched to every planet in the solar system. Humans can still do things that robots can't. Robots can still go places that humans can't. We need both.

Which is why they never have been in the space age. You are arguing for the situation that has always existed. Sputnik before Gagarin. Ranger and Lunar Orbiter before Apollo. Myriad probes to Mars already and robotic explores have already been dispatched to every planet in the solar system. Humans can still do things that robots can't. Robots can still go places that humans can't. We need both. Very well stated Waspie, You summed it up pretty durn good IMHO, heres to you and MID, and BTW I totally agree with you both,

Which is why they never have been in the space age. You are arguing for the situation that has always existed. Sputnik before Gagarin. Ranger and Lunar Orbiter before Apollo. Myriad probes to Mars already and robotic explores have already been dispatched to every planet in the solar system. Humans can still do things that robots can't. Robots can still go places that humans can't. We need both. At the risk of getting this post snipped and/or myself warned. I honestly would have expected better of a moderator. You took one line out of my entire post out of context. On top of that, you misinterp... [More]

At the risk of getting this post snipped and/or myself warned. I honestly would have expected better of a moderator. What has me being moderator got to do with it? With this statement you are taking this perilously close to a personal attack. You took one line out of my entire post out of context. On top of that, you misinterpreted it as well. How so? I find your response particularly mystifying as I was agreeing with you and pointing out that this is the situation that already exists. This is a discussion forum, it wouldn't be a very good one if every one had the same opinion. Sometimes you w... [More]

What has me being moderator got to do with it? With this statement you are taking this perilously close to a personal attack. How so? I find your response particularly mystifying as I was agreeing with you and pointing out that this is the situation that already exists. This is a discussion forum, it wouldn't be a very good one if every one had the same opinion. Sometimes you won't agree with what people say. Don't take it so personally... or make it so personal (especially with the people that DO agree with you.). If I was mistaken, I am sorry. To me it looked like your post was a correction ... [More]