April 2005
From RmmsWiki
General Meeting - April, 2005
In attendance: Brian E., Ray M., Dewey A., Brad J., Jim W., and guest speaker Bruce Damer.
Bruce launched into a fascinating and wide-ranging power point and websites show demonstrating an open-source 3-D virtual telerobotics demonstration of machinery with tactile feedback loops through a joystick system for the purpose of remote controlling exploratory, sample-gathering, mining, construction, mapping, and other robotic activities with humans-in-the-loop, for potential lunar and Martian programs in the near and medium-term future. Various missions including a barge-rack type earth-orbital docking, assembly and capture platform assembled telerobotically with the capacity to carry a hab, rover, sinterer, with electric ion propulsion system for modular landings and site-preparation of lunar bases (and practice preparatory for Mars) were demonstrated; the appropriate websites to view these activities/projects will be listed on the RMMS page-- highly recommended and interesting. Bruce also showed some of his DigiBarn website tracing the history of computers and programming with attendant machines, programs and other artifacts, also fascinating and a stroll down memory lane for some.
Discussion was had about the School of Mines coming up with some simulated lunar regolith for use in a vacuum chamber large enough to test their scaled-down mock-up of a lunar excavator (bucket wheel type) and to test various dust mitigation techniques; as well as the differences between lunar and Martian regoliths in terms of size, magnetic properties, abrasiveness and oxidativity and the required technologies for dealing with those, e.g., having to sinter/pave landing and base sites to control dust dispersal. Clancy's continued MDRS field work with mobile agents and telerovers was reviewed and the program is highly anticipated at the next conference this summer.
