Mars exploration rover

[Christopher Jungmann]

Does anyone have information on where I can obtain data on "autonomous
navigation" utilizing analog instead of digital systems?

The recent problems with Spirit have me thinking again about some of the
early work at MIT's "bug lab" a decade or so ago on analog "intelligence".  
I did some quick research and found that in contrast to the "bugs" the MERs
use a radiation hardened RISK processor (RAD6000) with VxWorks.  Sounds like
a pretty complex gig for a very tough environment.

I need to follow up on some thoughts that analog systems are fundamentally
better suited at handling complex and unpredictable environments, than
digital systems.  Fewer points of failure too.

>From: "Robert Holmes" <[hidden email]>
>Reply-To: The Friday Morning Complexity Coffee Group <[hidden email]>
>To: "FRIAM" <[hidden email]>
>Subject: [FRIAM] Mars exploration rover
>Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 09:01:13 -0700
>
>Pretty neat animation. I like the landing.
>
>http://www.maasdigital.com/mervideo-medium.html
>
>Dr. Robert Holmes
>
>PO Box 2862, Santa Fe, NM 87504
>mobile: [phone]
>web: www.holmesacosta.com
>
>============================================================
>FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
>Meets Fridays 9AM @ Jane's Cafe
>Lecture schedule, archives, unsubscribe, etc.:
>http://www.friam.org

_________________________________________________________________
Find high-speed ‘net deals — comparison-shop your local providers here.
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[Belinda Wong-Swanson-2]

Have you talked to Mark Tilden at LANL? He was developing all sorts of
autonomous bugs using resistors, capacitors & transistors.

Belinda


Belinda Wong-Swanson, Principal
Innov8 LLC, 624 Agua Fria, Santa Fe, NM 87501
www.innov8llc.com
email: [hidden email]
tel: [phone]
fax: [phone]

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]On
Behalf Of Christopher Jungmann
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 3:06 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: RE: [FRIAM] Mars exploration rover


Does anyone have information on where I can obtain data on "autonomous
navigation" utilizing analog instead of digital systems?

The recent problems with Spirit have me thinking again about some of the
early work at MIT's "bug lab" a decade or so ago on analog "intelligence".
I did some quick research and found that in contrast to the "bugs" the MERs
use a radiation hardened RISK processor (RAD6000) with VxWorks.  Sounds like
a pretty complex gig for a very tough environment.

I need to follow up on some thoughts that analog systems are fundamentally
better suited at handling complex and unpredictable environments, than
digital systems.  Fewer points of failure too.

>From: "Robert Holmes" <[hidden email]>
>Reply-To: The Friday Morning Complexity Coffee Group <[hidden email]>
>To: "FRIAM" <[hidden email]>
>Subject: [FRIAM] Mars exploration rover
>Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 09:01:13 -0700
>
>Pretty neat animation. I like the landing.
>
>http://www.maasdigital.com/mervideo-medium.html
>
>Dr. Robert Holmes
>
>PO Box 2862, Santa Fe, NM 87504
>mobile: [phone]
>web: www.holmesacosta.com
>
>============================================================
>FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
>Meets Fridays 9AM @ Jane's Cafe
>Lecture schedule, archives, unsubscribe, etc.:
>http://www.friam.org

_________________________________________________________________
Find high-speed ‘net deals — comparison-shop your local providers here.
https://broadband.msn.com


============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9AM @ Jane's Cafe
Lecture schedule, archives, unsubscribe, etc.:
http://www.friam.org