This chat was from the students who are registered for credit.

- It has been edited and some answers to some questions about the class have been inserted -

[13:59:04] NASAModerator: We have begun!

[14:01:53] DanielPoynter: Pick up the latest issue of Wired magazine, there is an article on biomimcry and robotics... fyi

[14:11:59] EricH: ::Question 1:: Why weren't there new technologies between the canadian arm and the 90s?

[14:12:38] Frankie: what slide are we on?

[14:13:35] NASAModerator: 5

[14:14:12] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Question 1: What is your favorite robot, Dave?

[14:17:55] DrCummings: I've got the picture. I resent you all the Robonaut assignment.

[14:19:27] DanielPoynter: Thanks Dr. C :)

[14:20:24] DrCummings: Welcome ;)

[14:21:11] EricH: ::Question 2:: When will robots like Charlotte be able to operate without human supervision?

[14:23:13] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Question 2: How do you test to make sure robots that have things like welders won't mailfuntion and hurt someone?

[14:23:34] AlexReben: q1: how can orientation of the robot be effictively sent back to the operator (ie how does he sence the diffrence between up and down in space)

[14:24:13] AlexReben: q2: in what way are robots more cost effictive then humans?

[14:26:01] Frankie: Question 1: Will any of these robots be autonomous?

[14:27:30] JacquelineMehlberg: How does a robot that wanders around as opposed to "looking" before going avoid pits in the ground?

[14:29:02] AlexThompson: It could have gound sensors... or some sort of antennae device

[14:29:10] MariaBibbs: Question What the point of tooth if it just bumps in to things and go around it ?

[14:30:18] BrianWoodworth: What has been the best location on Earth to conduct space related experiments thus far? (question 1)

[14:30:27] RHSStudents: has it been proven that legs work as well/better than wheels? (Lauren Delgado) Q1

[14:30:50] DrCummings: I'm using Windows Media. You might have to reload. It's working.

[14:30:55] AlexThompson: Question 1: Is tooth able to map out areas as it moes around so that it wont keep bumping into the next thing constantly

[14:31:06] JacquelineMehlberg: How do you keep robots with legs from "stumbling"? How would one right itself?

[14:31:59] EricH: ::Question 3:: Is Dante, or maybe another robot like Dante, ever going to actually go to another planet or satellite?

[14:33:09] JennyGimian: For what kind of terrain on mars might legs work better than wheels?

[14:35:17] AlexThompson2: If the robt has legs and it falls will it be capabl of picking itself up again. This was a big problem with Asimo

[14:35:42] MariaBibbs: Dose the machinery freeze because of the cold weather in the Antarctic

[14:36:27] BradGates: Question 1: Are robots with legs more efficient than robots with wheels?

[14:36:31] EricH: but asimo had legs

[14:36:36] EricH: alex

[14:37:00] RHSStudents: Q1: Any indication of oil in mars? (nik krumm)

[14:37:11] DanielPoynter2: ***QUESTION: I hear often of research groups talking about how their robot could be used for mine clearing, or search and rescue, or exploring other planets, but obviously most wont do that. Are groups like this actually learning much that hasnt already been learned by other groups in mechanical systems? I know there is a lot of possibility for reseach with AI, but what good is many like minded research groups for the robotic field?

[14:37:38] Frankie: Question 2: Are all of these robots mainly for Mars or will it be used on Earth?

[14:37:59] DrCummings: Pls read all the questions before asking yours. Lots of duplicates tonight...

[14:38:21] RHSStudents: what is the lifespan of one of these drills? (Lauren Delgado Q2)

[14:39:19] BradGates: Question 2: What would happen if the drill were to brake? would there be replacements?

[14:42:54] ChristianGabis: If a robot were to be built with legs, what would be the optimum number of legs to have?(Q1)

[14:43:37] DanielPoynter2: i think 6

[14:43:48] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Question 3: Which is better, wheels or treads?

[14:43:49] DanielPoynter2: not to many, but just enough for a tripod at all times...

[14:43:53] RossBowman: Question one: How would an aircraft work on Mars?

[14:44:56] DanielPoynter2: pernos: when building a robot, you have to make it specifically for the purpose, in some instances treads are better, in others, wheels, if wheels were always better than treads, why would there be treaded robots?

[14:45:11] DanielPoynter2: or vice versa

[14:45:25] PernosDetunaCTJIII: thanks Dan

[14:45:27] EricH: ross - the dude last week answered that question

[14:46:07] AlexThompson3: I think treads are more stable than wheels... and less likely to break

[14:46:18] DanielPoynter2: ***QUESTION: What are the main things that limit the lifespan of a rover? Temperature fluxuations affecting materials?

[14:46:26] MatthewJohnston: Q1 when do you think we will send a robot to pluto and stuff

[14:48:49] EricH: that looks like trov

[14:50:10] MariaBibbs: What is the deepest that the black smoker can go?

[14:50:11] JohnP: HURRAY! Everything works!

[14:50:48] BrianWoodworth: Do you think we will ever send a robot beyond the brink of our galaxy? (question 2)

[14:52:21] JohnP: How much does a "robo-ant" cost?

[14:52:25] JennyGimian: Could a ant robot maybe dig itself below the surface of mars and explore there?

[14:53:53] MattJohnston2: Q2 when do you think we will send flying robots to Gas giants?

[14:54:31] DanielPoynter2: ***QUESTION: If NASA is looking into robots that burrow into the ground of another planet, why can't we do the same for earth to go deeper into earth than be have

[14:55:59] ChrisGabis: What sorts of materials are you looking for when you dig in the ground(Q2)

[14:56:27] EricH: ::Question 4:: How much more efficiant are tiny robots than bigger ones that cost more?

[14:57:01] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Question 4: Why didn't you just equip the rover with sensors to detect the exact proximity of the lander?

[14:57:12] DanielPoynter2: ***QUESTION: Does it really matter what happened to the soujener from a scientific standpoint, or is it just something the scientists would like to know

[14:57:30] JacquelineMehlberg: What are some interesting things we've learned about our own planet while testing robots for space in extreme environments?

[14:58:21] EricH: ::Question 5:: If you make a lot of tiny robots, won't it end up costing about teh same as one big ones, like with the really hightech tiny microchips and the large number of the robots?

[14:59:18] AlexThompson3: Wow... that kind of makes your appreciate being able to walk on only two legs

[15:00:45] AlexThompson3: cool... ppt is working

[15:01:56] AlexThompson3: Question 4: What would the perfect "general purpose robot" look like

[15:03:34] RHSStudents: q2 NASA has used in the past a strategy of "cheap quick small" rovers and sattelites. Are they going to continue this strategy, or move towards large, more complex robots? (Nik Krumm)

[15:04:08] RHSStudents: Where on Earth do you test these mars robots? (Chris Zweigle)

[15:06:09] JohnP: have you thought about making robots like AERcam, but be able to "hover" around on the surface of planets?

[15:09:19] RHSStudents: in connection to the ant-robots. Do we have the communication technology small enough to fit on them and enable to create a "hive" of these robots? (Riley Gorder)

[15:12:14] DanielPoynter2: ***QUESTION: I am interested in a robotics field called BEAM, has there been any thought into using BEAM for your small ant like robots? BEAM robots dont need programming.

[15:13:54] DanielPoynter2: lol 'raise your hand if you found hemotite!'

[15:15:05] RHSStudents: Q2: What kinds of detectors are on these robots? (Chris Zweigle)

[15:17:49] DanielPoynter2: ***QUESTION: What are some things NASA is doing to get more done with less money, and raise public interest in space?

[15:18:32] DanielPoynter2: ***QUESTION: What is the future of the ISS? 5, 10, 20 years down the road?

[15:19:35] DanielPoynter2: ***QUESTION: How small can a spectrometer be?

[15:20:21] AlexReben: q3: are there any plans to search for ET in the long shot>

[15:23:59] LiYang: QUESTION1: Is fuel cell deployed in any of Nasa's robots?

[15:26:16] LiYang: QUESTION2: Why doesn't the planetary robots use radar as opposed to video to search the surroundings?

[15:28:44] DrCummings: Thank you for sharing your expertise with us, Dave!!

[15:29:09] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Thanks Dave!

[15:29:17] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Thanks Moderator

[15:29:20] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Thanks Meri

[15:29:32] MattJohnston2: thank you, dave, moderator, and Dr. cummings

[15:29:49] LiYang: QUESTION3: Does NASA plan to construct a permanent station on Mars?

[15:30:26] DrCummings: Thank you for your help, all Moderators!!

[15:30:40] JacquelineMehlberg: Thank you!

[15:30:41] DanielPoynter2: :)

[15:30:43] JennyGimian: Thanks

[15:30:44] RossBowman: Thanks you

[15:31:23] DrCummings: Students, I'll be out tomorrow, but back Monday. Thanks for your good questions!

[15:31:34] RHSStudents: q2: why can the robots recharge, with thier solar panels after they run out of powee, so that they can increase the timre they spend working or such. (Riley Gorder)

[15:38:07] DanielPoynter2: And/or emailing me a link to a place i could download the broadcasts

[15:38:50] NASAModerator: The video will all be archived online.

[15:39:53] LiYang: QUESTION3: Is it really possible to land on comics? How?

[15:41:18] NASATech: We are in the process of getting some equipment so we can make copies and so you may want to check the robotics site in about a month so we can send out CDs with the courses on it

[15:42:17] NASATech: Otherwise the course will be archived for your viewing pleasure

[15:42:55] DanielPoynter2: : ) it is a pleasure to view the broadcasts! thanks for your hardwork!