Aug 25 1980
From The Space Library
ARC reported on a space-technology assessment workshop held at the University of Santa Clara in California on robotics, automation, remotely operated systems, and artificial intelligence vital to future missions such as an orbiting space factory, a self-directed deep-space robot explorer, a fully automated Earth-resources and Earth-environment monitor, or a lunar base able to expand through self-replication of its elements. The 10-week workshop would end August 29 with an oral report and submission of other reports for publication.
Drawing on work by research institutions such as Stanford University, MIT, and SRI International as developers of computer-based "intelligence," the program participants included 18 professors of engineering, mathematics, and science, 15 NASA engineers and scientists, and several representatives of manufacturer groups. The workshop emphasized four areas: -A versatile "intelligent" satellite information system able to select and interpret the data from its sensors to give specific items to a specific user, unlike previous systems recording everything they saw to produce great masses of superfluous data.
A deep-space exploration system for reconnaissance, exploration, and intensive surface study of planetary bodies, specifically Saturn's moon Titan, bigger than the planet Mercury and with its own atmosphere. Uniting functions of previously separate craft (orbiter, atmosphere probe, mobile surface explorer), the vehicle would observe an unknown environment and modify its "knowledge model" and exploration techniques according to its observations. Systems of this sort could explore distant bodies in the solar system such as outer planets and their satellites, comets, and asteroids; such systems would be required for exploring planetary systems of other stars when communications distances and flight time of many years would preclude manned involvement.
A permanent automated Earth-orbiting facility initially geared to process Earth-supplied raw materials in the space environment; later it would make progressively larger use of nonterrestrial materials from the asteroids and moons of Earth and other planets. The workshop considered a number of processing and manufacturing techniques adaptable to a space environment, starter facilities capable of producing a wide range of items, and the tools that would be needed to expand the facility's capabilities.
A factory on the Moon to use lunar materials and replicate itself, its first major product being another lunar factory or factory segment. Such a self-replicating facility had been of theoretical interest for some time as a way of rapidly expanding space resources. The workshop had studied types of logical organization for such a factory, and requirements for an Earth-based demonstration of the concept. (ARC Releases 80-69, 80-70; NASA Release 80-134)
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