Japan aims for walking robot on the moon by 2020

Japan aims for walking robot on the moon by 2020
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http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ioijx5DLWQ4vTbjJmhNgHsNszNhwD97AVVSG0
By JAY ALABASTER – 1 day ago
TOKYO (AP) — Japan hopes to have a two-legged robot walk on the moon by around 2020, with a joint mission involving astronauts and robots to follow, according to a plan laid out Friday by a government group.

Specifics of the plan, including what new technologies will be required and the size of the project's budget, are to be decided within the next two years, according to Japan's Strategic Headquarters for Space Development, a Cabinet-level working group.
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Bob in Texas mentioned the above link and these also.
- LRK -

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http://i.gizmodo.com/5197523/japan-pledges-to-land-humanoid-robot-on-moon-by-2020
Japan Pledges To Land Humanoid Robot On Moon By 2020
By Wilson Rothman, 7:00 PM on Fri Apr 3 2009, 8,440 views
In an otherwise vague announcement, Japan's Strategic Headquarters for Space Development said that it would put a two-legged humanoid robot on the moon by 2020.
This is to be part of a bigger space plan, whose details will be decided in the next couple of years. It's no surprise that Japan is eager to put robots on the moon (they're eager to put robots anywhere), and it's also no surprise that they wish to follow up the robots-only mission with a manned mission, using robot helpers.
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/gadgets_and_gaming/article6032128.ece
From The Times
April 4, 2009
One step for a robot, a giant leap for tin-mankind
Leo Lewis in Tokyo
The cutting-edge models can lumber around a room without falling over. A few can play the trumpet or serve tea. The truly sophisticated ones can just about manage the washing-up.
But by 2020, Japan predicts, humanoid robots will be ready to colonise the Moon. Other metallic brethren of these mechanical pioneers, said scientists in Tokyo, will be engaged in the bigger, more prosaic mission of cleaning Earth’s orbit of junk.
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http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/03/japan_proposes_two_legged_robot_on_moon_by_2020/
Japan talks lunar 'bots as commies go hot
Time to stretch those servos
By Austin Modine • Get more from this author
Posted in Rise of the Machines, 3rd April 2009 18:16 GMT
As North Korea preps a ballistic missile launch over Japan, the Japanese are grandstanding back with promises of robots walking on the moon by 2020.
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We have mentioned that it would be nice to have some robots to help set up a lunar base camp.
We have also mentioned that the lunar regolith is not going to be kind to mechanical devices.
It will be interesting to see how well a robot will handle all of the grit.
- LRK -

I have been reading the writings of James S. Albus and I know we have a number of robotic machines being used in industry.
http://www.isd.mel.nist.gov/documents/library/isd_pub.html
http://www.isd.mel.nist.gov/personnel/albus/


We have seen cars run on their own across the desert.
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/october12/stanleyfinish-100905.html
Will someone make an automatic railroad track installer for the Moon?
http://www.distant-galaxy.com/maelstrom2/DigiMatte/ACC_M2LunarRailMountains.html

I wonder what the response from the USA will be?
Are we really going to do more than just spend a couple of days on a mountain?
Who or what is going to install power lines?

What will be the next robot toy or transformer you buy at the store?
One of an astronaut robot and its adventures on the Moon?
Will you be able to buy a lunar base camp kit?

Hope we see more books about living on the Moon.
Enjoyed watching the TV series Space: 1999.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072564/

Who is writing about the Moon Base Alpha now?

Any movies being developed showing how we will live on the Moon?
http://www.distant-galaxy.com/maelstrom2/MaelstromII.html

Thanks for looking up with me.

Larry Kellogg

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
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> Title: Theory of Cerebellar Function
> Author: Albus, J.S.
> Published: Mathematical Biosciences, Volume 10, Numbers 1/2, February
> 1971, pgs. 25-61
> Keywords: Brain Models & Neural Nets
> Ref Num: 1 Year: 1971 Project: CMAC
> Online versions: PDF [2 M]
> http://www.isd.mel.nist.gov/documents/albus/Loc_01.pdf
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> http://www.isd.mel.nist.gov/documents/albus/Ref_Model_Arch345.pdf
> [38 pages, 132 KB]
> A Reference Model Architecture for Intelligent Systems Design
>
> James S. Albus
> Intelligent Systems Division
> Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory
> National Institute of Standards and Technology
>
> Introduction
> A previously published outline for a theory of intelligence defines
> intelligence as “the ability to act appropriately in an uncertain environment, where appropriate
> action is that which increases the probability of success, and success is the achievement of
> behavioral goals[1].” The intelligent system acts so as to maximize probability of success and minimize
> probability of failure. Both goals and success criteria are generated in the environment external
> to the intelligent system. At a minimum, intelligence requires the abilities to sense the environment,
> make decisions, and control action. Higher levels of intelligence require the abilities to
> recognize objects and events, store and use knowledge about the world, and to reason about and plan for the
> future. Advanced forms of intelligence have the abilities to perceive and analyze, to plot and
> scheme, to choose wisely and plan successfully in a complex, competitive, hostile world. The amount
> of intelligence is determined by the computational power of the computing engine, the
> sophistication and elegance of algorithms, the amount and quality of information and values, and
> the efficiency and reliability of the system architecture. The amount of intelligence can grow
> through programming, learning, and evolution. Intelligence is the product of natural selection,
> wherein more successful behavior is passed on to succeeding generations of intelligent systems, and less
> successful behavior dies out. Natural selection is driven by competition between individuals within
> a group, and groups within the world.
> snip
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> A New Approach to Manipulator Control: The Cerebellar Model
> Articulation Controller
>
> http://www4.cs.umanitoba.ca/~jacky/Robotics/Papers/Albus-ANewApproachForManipulatorControlCMACS.pdf
> [4 pages, 68 KB]
>
> The Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller (CMAC) [1, 2] is a neural
> network that models the structure and function of the part of the
> brain known as the cerebellum. The cerebellum provides precise coordination of motor
> control for such body parts as the eyes, arms, fingers, legs, and
> wings. It stores and retrieves information required to control thousands of muscles in
> producing coordinated behavior as a function of time. CMAC was
> designed to provide this kind of motor control for robotic manipulators.
> snip
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK

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NASA Joins "Around the World in 80 Telescopes"

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http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/apr/HQ_09-076_Telescopes_webcast.html
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NASA Joins "Around the World in 80 Telescopes"

WASHINGTON -- A collection of NASA missions will be involved in a live event April 3 that will allow the public to get an inside look at how these missions are run. "Around the World in 80 Telescopes" is a 24-hour webcast that is part of the "100 Hours of Astronomy" event for the International Year of Astronomy 2009.

During the webcast, viewers will be able to visit some of the most advanced telescopes on and off the planet. For NASA's space-based missions, the webcast will be broadcast from control centers throughout the United States. To view the webcast, visit: http://100hoursofastronomy.org/webcast

As part of the webcast, each mission will release a never-before-seen image from the telescope or observatory. The new images can be found on the websites listed below. Please note these times correspond to the beginning of each mission's segment on the live webcast and when each new image will be available.
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http://twitter.com/telescopecast

Thanks for looking up with me.

Larry Kellogg

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==============================================================
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/apr/HQ_09-076_Telescopes_webcast.html

April 02, 2009

J.D. Harrington Headquarters, Washington 202-358-5241 j.d.harrington@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 09-076

NASA JOINS "AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 TELESCOPES"

WASHINGTON -- A collection of NASA missions will be involved in a live event April 3 that will allow the public to get an inside look at how these missions are run. "Around the World in 80 Telescopes" is a 24-hour webcast that is part of the "100 Hours of Astronomy" event for the International Year of Astronomy 2009.
During the webcast, viewers will be able to visit some of the most advanced telescopes on and off the planet. For NASA's space-based missions, the webcast will be broadcast from control centers throughout the United States. To view the webcast, visit: http://100hoursofastronomy.org/webcast
As part of the webcast, each mission will release a never-before-seen image from the telescope or observatory. The new images can be found on the websites listed below. Please note these times correspond to the beginning of each mission's segment on the live webcast and when each new image will be available.
The NASA missions participating in the Webcast, in chronological order, are (times EDT, April 3):
Hubble Space Telescope: 1:20 p.m. http://hubblesite.org/news/2009/04
Swift Gamma-ray Burst Explorer: 1:40 p.m. http://www.nasa.gov/swift
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope: 2 p.m. http://www.nasa.gov/fermi
SOHO and TRACE: 3:20 p.m. http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov and http://sunland.gsfc.nasa.gov/smex/trace
STEREO: 3:40 p.m. http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov
Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX): 4:20 p.m. http://www.galex.caltech.edu
Chandra X-ray Observatory: 4:40 p.m. http://www.chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2009
Spitzer Space Telescope: 5:20 p.m. http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/spitzer/index.shtml
Kepler 3:05 a.m. (April 4) http://kepler.nasa.gov
For information about the International Year of Astronomy, visit: http://astronomy2009.nasa.gov
For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov
-end

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http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=44537
Join ESA's XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL observatories in the 'Around the World in 80 Telescopes' webcast
30 Mar 2009

On 3 April 2009 ESA astronomers will take part in a unique live webcast, 'Around the world in 80 telescopes'. During the webcast viewers will visit astronomers at observatories and research institutes around the world, including ESA's European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) near Madrid in Spain. This is part of the 100 Hours of Astronomy, a cornerstone project for the International Year of Astronomy.

This special webcast starts at 09:00 UT (11:00 CEST) on 3 April and will run for 24 hours, following night and day around the globe to some of the most advanced observatories both on and off the planet. ESA's dedicated segment will provide viewers with an insight into two space observatories, XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL, and an opportunity to meet astronomers working on these missions.
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http://www.100hoursofastronomy.org/join-our-mailing-list/75-live-24-hour-research-0bservatory-webcast
Around the World in 80 Telescopes

Live 24-hour webcast from astronomical observatories
Organised by ESO, the European Southern Observatory, from its HQ in Garching, Germany
Date: 3 April 2009, 09:00 UT (Universal Time/GMT) to 4 April 2009, 09:00 UT (Universal Time/GMT).
Duration: 24 hours

"Around the World in 80 Telescopes" is a unique live 24-hour webcast, following night and day around the globe to some of the most advanced observatories both on and off the planet. You can watch it right here on the 100HA website, and on the 100HA channel on Ustream.tv.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/100-hours-of-astronomy

Find out what's happening at a research observatory in your country, or on the other side of the planet, and discover what astronomers are doing right now! Who is observing? What are they researching? What do they hope to discover?

You'll see a snapshot of life at many different observatories where astronomers will present exclusive images and talk about their work. Some will be observing distant galaxies, searching for extrasolar planets around other stars or studying our own Solar System. Some will be studying the Universe in visible light, others in radio waves or other wavelengths. Some may be working at solar observatories or with telescopes out in space. All of them will have a different story to tell.
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http://twitter.com/telescopecast
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK

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Lunar Dust & Mt. Redoubt

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http://spaceweather.com/
April 1, 2009
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*NEW VERB: *There's a new verb in Alaska: "to ash." It's like "to snow," only grayer and more sulfurous. Residents downwind of Mt. Redoubt are using it like this: "We don't run our ski lifts when *it ashes* because it damages the electric motors," says Michelle Cosper of the Alyeska Resort near Girdwood. It's been ashing a lot lately as Mt. Redoubt has erupted more than 19 times since March 22nd. "The ash has created a moonscape with all the highlights of gray," she says.

The resemblance to moondust is more than superficial. Consider the following: Volcanic ash is gray, abrasive, can be dangerous to breathe and easily electrified. Moondust is gray, abrasive, can be dangerous to breathe and easily electrified . Indeed, Alaskans are getting a taste of life on the Moon.
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Michael Murphy sent me the link to the above SpaceWeather article on the problems with volcanic ash from the latest eruption of Mt. Redoubt in Alaska.
His comment on the article.
- LRK -
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I find the comparison to the composition of moondust to be quite interesting. Maybe this (and other similar situations) would be an opportunity to test hardware and try out possible decontamination (dust removal) processes that would be essential in a Lunar Habitat.
Michael W. Murphy
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Would be nice to take advantage of these natural happenings as we consider how to live on the Moon.
At present NASA needs Fake Moondust.
- LRK -

http://www.space.com/news/0701032_technovelgy_moondust.html
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/28dec_truefake.htm?list955127

The folks at the airport are trying to be creative.
- LRK -

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http://www.adn.com/volcano/story/740777.html
Airport opens, residents clean up ash
By LISA DEMER
ldemer@adn.com
Published: March 29th, 2009 03:17 PM
Last Modified: March 30th, 2009 12:30 PM

The day after Redoubt volcano spewed ash across Anchorage and much of Southcentral Alaska, the city began to clean up the soggy gray mess. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport reopened Sunday afternoon, though many flights were still canceled or delayed. Hundreds of passengers anticipate being stranded for days in hubs like Seattle and Minneapolis.

Drivers lined up at car washes to blast off the scratchy gunk. Worried pet owners flooded the phones at an emergency vet clinic. And everyone watched for any signs of another explosion from Redoubt.

snip

The ash is mainly fine bits of abrasive volcanic glass that can damage lungs, vehicles or electronics equipment. But the ash fall on Anchorage, Nikiski and elsewhere in Southcentral Alaska on Saturday was considered minor.

snip

*Slide show:* Airport crew uses new technique to get ash off runways

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Thanks for looking up with me.

Larry Kellogg

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==============================================================
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/newsreader/story/741454.html
March 30: Time-lapse volcano video; fur trapper reflects; sheefish season; lawmakers, aides shoot guns; Alaskan Brewing's green dreams; polluting wood boilers
Today's News for the Last Frontier
Compiled by Mark Dent
mdent@adn.com
Published: March 30th, 2009 08:58 AM
Last Modified: March 31st, 2009 09:41 AM

TIME-LAPSE PHOTOS CAPTURE REDOUBT ERUPTION (Bretwood Higman, Ground Truth Trekking / Vimeo.com): Seldovia photographer Higman on Friday set up a camera to shoot Redoubt Volcano at 15-second intervals. He got lucky with a dramatic series of photos showing a sunset eruption.
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http://vimeo.com/3892358
Redoubt Eruption March 27 2009
by Bretwood Higman
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dangerous to breathe
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/22apr_dontinhale.htm

*April 22, 2005: *This is a true story.

In 1972, Apollo astronaut Harrison Schmitt sniffed the air in his Lunar Module, the /Challenger/. "[It] smells like gunpowder in here," he said. His commander Gene Cernan agreed. "Oh, it does, doesn't it?"

**The two astronauts had just returned from a long moonwalk around the Taurus-Littrow valley, near the Sea of Serenity. Dusty footprints marked their entry into the spaceship. That dust became airborne--and smelly.

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easily electrified
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/30mar_moonfountains.htm

*March 30, 2005: * It's astounding how prophetic some science fiction has been.

**Back in 1956, two years before NASA was even created, Hal Clement wrote a short story called "Dust Rag" published in /Astounding Science Fiction/, about two astronauts descending into a crater on the Moon to investigate a mysterious haze dimming stars near the lunar horizon. After discarding a wild guess that they were seeing traces of a lunar atmosphere--"gases don't behave that way"--they figured it had to be dust somehow suspended above the ground. In a conversation remarkable for its scientific prescience, one of the astronauts explains:

"…The [Moon's] surface material is one of the lousiest imaginable electrical conductors, so the dust normally on the surface picks up and keeps a charge. And what, dear student, happens to particles carrying like electrical charges?"

"They are repelled from each other."

"Head of the class. And if a hundred-kilometer circle with a rim a couple of [kilometers] high is charged all over, what happens to the dust lying on it?

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080924191552.htm
NASA’s Dirty Secret: Moon Dust

ScienceDaily (Sep. 29, 2008) — The Apollo Moon missions of 1969-1972 all share a dirty secret. “The major issue the Apollo astronauts pointed out was dust, dust, dust,” says Professor Larry Taylor, Director of the Planetary Geosciences Institute at the University of Tennessee. Fine as flour and rough as sandpaper, Moon dust caused ‘lunar hay fever,’ problems with space suits, and dust storms in the crew cabin upon returning to space.

Taylor and other scientists will present their research on lunar dust at the “Living on a Dusty Moon” session on Thursday, 9 October 2008, at the Joint Meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies (GCAGS) in Houston, Texas, USA.* NASA will use these findings to plan a safer manned mission to the Moon in 2018. Taylor will also deliver a Pardee Keynote Session talk on Sunday, 5 October 2008 entitled “Formation and Evolution of Lunar Soil from An Apollo Perspective.”

The trouble with moon dust stems from the strange properties of lunar soil. The powdery grey dirt is formed by micrometeorite impacts which pulverize local rocks into fine particles. The energy from these collisions melts the dirt into vapor that cools and condenses on soil particles, coating them in a glassy shell.

These particles can wreak havoc on space suits and other equipment. During the Apollo 17 mission, for example, crewmembers Harrison “Jack” Schmitt and Gene Cernan had trouble moving their arms during moonwalks because dust had gummed up the joints. “The dust was so abrasive that it actually wore through three layers of Kevlar-like material on Jack’s boot,” Taylor says.

To make matters worse, lunar dust suffers from a terrible case of static cling. UV rays drive electrons out of lunar dust by day, while the solar wind bombards it with electrons by night. Cleaning the resulting charged particles with wet-wipes only makes them cling harder to camera lenses and helmet visors. Mian Abbas of the National Space Science and Technology Center in Huntsville, Alabama, will discuss electrostatic charging on the moon and how dust circulates in lunar skies.

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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK

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