Types of Robots

The Types of Robots needed for a Lunar Settlement

A fully functioning lunar settlement will require a great many types of robots. Here are a few ideas.

This list is based on the mining settlement described in Dr. Schmitt's book, "Return to the Moon". It is also intended for use in developing robot characters in stories about lunar settlements.

Physical Robots

General description:

Most are rover types
- Wheeled base
- Camera eyes on an upright
- One or two arms
- Multiple tools for hands
All outside robots wear protective coats to protect from dust and temperature
All robots are largely controlled from Earth
- Called teleoperation
- They are capable of autonomous operation
- To address the communication delay
- 384,401 km / 299,793 km/sec = 1.28 sec each way
- This also lets them do minor tasks and keep themselves safe on their own
A combination of a robot and its Earth-side human operator may be story character
Some robots are safety buddies for all outside workers and tourists
A robot may be associated with an avatar
There will be no NG Star Trek Commander Data type robots for the foreseeable future!
What they want: (these are built into their programs)
- Not to hurt people
- Not to be damaged
- Keep the He-3 production running

Sandworms:

They are the big mining machines, called Sandworms
- They harvest helium-3
- They are huge
- They are ugly
- They have many moving parts
- They crawl forward slowly processing regolith at the rate of tons per hours
One small sandworm digs trenches for new buildings
- This was the first one built
- It is 1/4 the size of the big ones
A small rover robot is permanently attends each Sandworm

Construction, Production & Science:

Some robots are trucks with boom arms
Many may be cranes or other construction equipment
- Can carry massive material, equipment, and a few people
Some fixed pieces of industrial equipment are robots too
- These have many moving parts and may have arms
Some robots are stationed at the air lock doors
- Provide security
- Dust control by sweeping and inspection
Some robots tend to or are science instruments
One robot tends the amateur astronomy equipment
Some small robots work inside cleaning up moon dust

Waldos

These are a combination spacesuit and robot
- Controlled by person in spacesuit
They can be run from Earth if necessary
They augment the workers capabilities
They are very strong, but move slowly
They may have either legs or wheels
Waldos were made famous in the movie "Aliens"

Avatars

An Avatar is a computer generated persona that exists only in a computer or Personal electronic device
They appear on your computer screen
They talk to you
They do your virtual bidding
Many are game players
They may have a job
- Teacher
- Personal assistant - interface with computer system
They may look like:
- People, pets, dinosaurs, etc
- The Moon personified
Some are a dead person
- This is controversial
- some people think it make the computers feel haunted
Making one for a living person is unethical
They may just be a pet.
They have some artificial intelligence
They may be associated with one computer terminal or one robot
- A ghost in the machine
They may move around between machines to follow a person
They give some people the creeps
They want:
- Nothing