From: LARRY KLAES (ljk4_at_msn.com)
Date: Mon Sep 26 2005 - 18:03:08 UTC
>From: "NASANEWS_at_mail.arc.nasa.gov" <nasanews_at_mail.arc.nasa.gov>
>To: ames-releases_at_lists.arc.nasa.gov
>Subject: NASA TO SHOW INTELLIGENT SPACE ROBOTS IN ACTION AT AMES 'MARSCAPE'
>Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 10:26:24 -0700
>
>John Bluck Sept. 26, 2005
>NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
>Phone: 650/604-5026 or 604-9000
>E-mail: jbluck_at_mail.arc.nasa.gov
>
>Release: 05-48AR
>
>MEDIA ADVISORY: You are invited to the outdoor 'Marscape' at NASA Ames
>Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., Monday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2
>p.m. PDT to view prototype space robots in action. Reporters will be able
>to interview NASA researchers about the artificial intelligence that may
>some day help robots and human beings on Earth and Mars work together. To
>reach Ames, take the Moffett Field exit from Highway 101, drive east to the
>main gate and the visitor badging office to obtain a map and directions to
>the event. To reach the 'Marscape,' follow R.T. Jones Road northwest to
>Gate 17. Immediately after you go through the gate, you will see the
>Marscape on the right. U.S. media representatives must have valid
>government-issued picture ID in order to enter Ames. (A driver's license or
>a U.S. passport will do.)
>
>NASA TO SHOW INTELLIGENT SPACE ROBOTS IN ACTION AT AMES 'MARSCAPE'
>
>NASA will showcase two intelligent robots on Monday, October 3, in the
>outdoor 'Marscape' at NASA Ames Research Center, located in California's
>Silicon Valley.
>
>The two robots - 'K-9' and 'Gromit' - are smart enough to make decisions
>about how to achieve objectives on a planet or moon without detailed
>instructions from human beings. Researchers will also demonstrate 'mobile
>agent' software that may someday help robots and human beings on Earth, the
>moon and Mars communicate with each another.
>
>"To efficiently explore the moon and Mars, flight crews will have to be
>much more self-reliant than before," said David Korsmeyer, chief of the
>Intelligent Systems Division at NASA Ames. "Development of such
>self-reliance requires machine intelligence, coupled tightly with human
>direction," Korsmeyer explained.
>Eventually, robots may work together to prepare landing sites, habitats or
>resources on extraterrestrial sites, according to scientists. Robots and
>human beings will form teams on moons and planets to explore them, ventured
>Korsmeyer.
>
>NASA Ames computer scientists are developing additional intelligent systems
>that can operate seamlessly with human ground and flight crews. Not only
>will robots and computers be more self-sufficient because they will be able
>to plan ahead, but they will be able to work more efficiently and safely
>with their human crewmates - even enabling the flight crews to manage
>spacecraft health autonomously, reducing dependence on earth-based mission
>support staff, according to scientists.
>
>"We are developing capabilities to allow humans and robots to operate
>competently and efficiently together in harsh, partially understood
>environments," said Alonso Vera of NASA Ames. "Candidate missions for
>robots include constructing lunar habitats, constructing large space
>structures, and performing science measurements for Earth or space
>science," Vera noted.
>
>Robot-human communications 'mobile agent' software comes in several types,
>according to Bill Clancey of NASA Ames. "The key thing is that the explorer
>will talk with the computer mobile agent software about science
>observations being made," said Clancey. "There are three specifics that the
>explorer relays to the agent - the name of the location, which sample bag
>the explorer is using to collect samples, and a narration of contents of
>the bag and the geologic context."
>
>During future planetary exploration, this kind of data will be relayed by
>personal agent software to others on the science team, both on the planet's
>surface and back on Earth, according to Clancey. Information will be stored
>in a database in a Mars or planetary human habitat. The personal agent
>software will send this data via e-mail to the Earth-bound science team.
>The software also automatically will transmit images taken by the
>astronauts to their planetary habitat and to Earth.
>
>The robots and mobile agent research is funded by the Software, Intelligent
>Systems and Modeling Program, part of NASA's Exploration Systems Mission
>Directorate.
>
>Publication-size images are available on the World Wide Web at:
>
>http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/multimedia/images/2005/K9.html
>
>http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2004/mobile_agents/mobile_agents.html
>
>-end-
>
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>http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/index.html includes news releases and
>JPEG images in AP Leaf Desk format minus embedded captions.
>
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