If you would like to get some good insight into how humans and robots may one day cooperate in the exploration of the Moon and Mars, check out the
Desert Rats web site. Since last weekend, a team of NASA robotics and exploration researchers have been in the Arizona desert, simulating a human/robotic exploration mission to Mars. This simulation is being conducted to evaluate several technologies for potential future use in Mars exploration missions, and to better understand how humans and robots can cooperate to increase task productivity. And, the
Robonaut,
K-10 and
ATHLETE robots are just plain cool.
-dave