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NUCLEARSPACE MESSAGE BOARD (ACTIVE) -> SCIENCE & ENGINEERING -> Japan Dreams of Robot Moon Base in 2025
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10kBq jaro

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Japan Dreams of Robot Moon Base in 2025
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http://www.pcworld.com/resource/article/0,aid,121442,pg,1,RSS,RSS,00.asp


Japan Dreams of Robot Moon Base in 2025


Advanced humanoid robots could take over mining, telescope-building chores for humans.


Paul Kallender, IDG News Service


Monday, June 20, 2005


TOKYO -- Japan wants to help build a lunar base and populate it with advanced versions of today's humanoid robots by around 2025, according to the head of the nation's space agency.



The idea is more than a pipe-dream; it is part of a 20-year plan, called JAXA Vision 2025, that was drawn up by Keiji Tachikawa, a former president of Japan's largest mobile operator NTT DoCoMo, who is now president of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA).


As part of the plan, Japan would use advanced robotic technologies to help build the moon base, while redeveloped versions of today's humanoid robots, such as Honda Motor's Asimo and Sony's Qrio, could work in the moon's inhospitable environment in place of astronauts, he said in a recent interview.


Japan's lunar robots would do work such as building telescopes and prospecting and mining for minerals, Tachikawa said.


"I see a big role for Japan's robotics technologies on the moon," he said. "Japanese robots will be one of our big contributions. If there is work where robots can replace humans, they will."


U.S. Also Interested


Tachikawa's plan follows a January 2004 decision by U.S. President George W. Bush that the U.S., with the assistance of partners including Japan, should build a lunar base by about 2020 and use it as a staging point for the human exploration of Mars.


The plan has struck a chord in Japan, which has long harbored dreams of building such a base.


Along with robots and robotic equipment, Japan's high-tech and industrial giants may also develop versions of more traditionally earthbound products for use in space.


"Honda could develop automobiles for the moon. Many products that are made here on earth can be adapted to operate on the moon," Tachikawa said.


Japan already has many of the technologies that it would need for its ambitions in space. Along with its better-known humanoid robots, the nation is also a leader in equipment such as robotic arms for space construction.


Robot Satellites


NEC and other Japanese companies are building experimental "robot satellites" that will be able to service, repair and refuel other satellites. Toshiba is supplying several parts for the $100 billion International Space Station, a gigantic floating laboratory with solar panels that spread the length of a football pitch. The parts from Toshiba include a highly dextrous, 9.7-meter robot arm.


Japan's space program was established in 1969, a few months after the American astronaut Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. In the late 1990s, a leading Japanese think tank proposed that Japan launch over 100 rockets carrying robots and materials to help establish a Japanese outpost by 2020.


The proposal was ruled out because of costs, however. Soon after, three of Japan's satellite launches failed catastrophically, casting doubt on the nation's rocket technologies.


JAXA's annual space budget is only about $1.5 billion, or one tenth of NASA's. Following its own failures, Japan's space program has historically looked to the United States for leadership, so the realization of Tachikawa's dream may depend on the America's continued commitment to return to the moon.

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larry

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Alas, how many vision have I read over since the 60's. Or ending dependency on the US space program.


I like the write up - thanks. I just don't believe in NASA - although Griffin might do something.



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GoogleNaut

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I know it is discouraging. I would like to see NASA split into two seperate agencies--one that focusses mostly on aeronautics (which NASA does some fine work in this aspect--many safety systems have benefitted the civillian passenger aircraft industry due to NASA inventions,) and another part that does all or mostly space related research. I would like to see its funding increased substantially, and I would like to see private sector involvement in a bigger way.

Back in the mid-1960's there were brief proposals to create another branch of the military--the United States Space Force--but this was quickly and quietly dropped by John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was somewhat abhorrent of the notion of militarizing space--early proposals for doing this involved Project Orion. This was probably one of the reasons why Orion was killed. This was also the main reason why NASA was given the task of sending people to the Moon--he didn't want the United States military trying to established an armed presence on the moon, or claiming the moon in the name of the United States--an almost guaranteed method for ticking off almost every other nation on the planet! Anyways, NASA is a civillian agency by its charter--even though it often works closely with the military




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larry

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You got me thinking on Moon bases

So in a less cynical state of mind, I reviewed their plan and those visions of the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's ...

I really like the approach that Jaro found. Not only because is the same one I help come up with it at a space session a long time ago in a place far from here. Yea me and dozens of others ...

Really - I have always figured the way to kick off a lunar base is with robotics.

And if anyone has the vision and the technology - I think the Japanese have a real chance to make it happen. Of course there is that funding thing...


Still, it will be quite interesting, if some one has a robot on the moon that can do construction - instead of exploration.




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GoogleNaut

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Certainly, it could be done. The main problem with robotics, as I see it, will be the dust. Lunar surface regolith contains very fine particles which may be able to work past seals, gaskets, etc. I can imagine that greased bearings could certainly end up clogged with an abrasive mix of outgassing grease and lunar fines. Dittor for gear boxes and drive chains.

Possibly this could be mitigated by using close tolerances and tight fitting ceramic seals, or perhaps maybe even using magnetic 'ferrite' seperators to create a magnetic 'regolith shield' on axels and drive shafts where they pierce gear boxes and such.

The dust, cosmic ray damage, and the harsh temperatures of lunar day and night might prove troublesome for lunar robots. But, hey, I don't think those are insermountable. Merely obstacles to be overcome.

I think the Japanese have some really good ideas--using robotic 'vac workers' teleoperated either from Earth, or from a manned surface base on the moon will teach us much about robotic operations, and will likely be much safer than sending a crew out on extended surface operations to do the same job. Robotic construction equipment makes good sense.



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