Prof. G. Scott Hubbard argues that the dichotomy between humans and robots in space exploration is false. Currently, robots are better suited for initial exploration due to their endurance, but humans are better at making complex decisions and following up opportunities. In the future, humans and robots will work together, with robots laying groundwork and narrowing options, while humans make sense of complex situations and discoveries. The roles of humans and robots will evolve over time through partnerships that enhance both.
2. Space Exploration: People or robots?
The Questions
This is a false dichotomy
The ratio of robots to humans will change
At some point the human being will become the
dominant tool for exploring Mars
Today Near Future
2015-2020
The Age of Space
3. It takes the MER rover a day
to do what a field geologist
can do in about 45 seconds. --
Steve Squyres MER 2003 PI
Apollo 17 comparison
Human/Robot Comparison
Drove 36 km in 20 hours of
EVA (less time driving)
Collected 110 kgs of rocks
from 30 sites
The Opportunity rover has driven
40km in 11 years. It cannot collect
rocks.
4. Why Human Scientists on Mars?
Humans will take exploration the
next steps:
Make sense of the complex
Make decisions
Choose the right spots
Perform the right tests
Interpret results on the spot
and able to follow through
opportunistically
To discover and experience
Robotic Missions:
Provide the basic data:
topography, geology, meteorology
Lay the groundwork: the salty sea
has been demonstrated
Narrow the field
Fixed-not opportunistic
Cannot assign or assess meaning
5. Where we’re headed
International Space
Station Remote
Manipulator
System
from
Canada
Human/robot interaction studies in Mars analog environments
A Mars Exploration
Rover
6. Challenges
•Will machines become more like humans?
•Will humans become more like machines?
Computer Science is enhancing
machine capability to function
in novel, unstructured, complex
environments. Machines areMachines are
augmenting humanaugmenting human
abilitiesabilities
Apollo 17 facts:
Drove 36 kms in 20 hours of EVA (less time driving)
Collected 110 kgs of rocks form 30 sites
Only humans can ascribe meaning. “Patty Jones”.
Robots can create representations of things but the only “meaning” is added by a human interpretation
Glenn Mahone talking points on why humans/why robots --get the talking points from David Morse.
Introduce topic
Future is about coming together in the future
Van Allen vs Von Braun find quotes
Enhancing human capabilities--amplify human cababilities
Enhance machine capabilities to handle more novel, complex, unstructured situations
Paul Fitz--human factors guy --Fitz lists
Introduction to Human Factors Engineering (2nd Edition) by Christopher D. Wickens, et al (Hardcover)
The Borg? Enhanced human performance
Sitting on a bench with advanced glasses with stock ticker quotes--Walt Brooks with blue tooth plug in
Ultimate-genetic engineering for other worlds
DNA--
After reading that and talking to the Aussie reporter, I think we can make a very compelling package out of:
-some standard Ames overview materials with emphasis on the IT parts - maybe add in the Project Columbia slide
-some existing whizbang on Mars exploration (using the 6 minutes?).
-A bit of the new human/robotic partnership stuff
-Finish up with "visionary partnerships" using the NRP stuff in a bit more than usual detail (maybe put the video back in) and citing some real partnerships we have crafted lately - build up the Silicon Valley entrepreneurial aspect.