Summary: Robot will beam live Moon pictures to Oculus users
Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University joined
the company Astrobotic to develop a robot that will land on the moon. With this
robot, a video of the Moon will be done in order to participate in the Google
Lunar XPrize and compete for the prize of $ 30 million. The competition
challenges teams to create a robot to land on the Moon, make a video moving in
it 500 meters and send to Earth. In the case of Carnegie Mellon University with
the company Astrobotic, the head of an operator can control the robot, which
was nicknamed Andy. Thus, the user will do head movements using a headset
Oculus Rift (virtual reality), to be tracked and sent back to the camera robot
that will do the same movements. With the robot Andy, people will feel like they
are on the moon really. This project will not take people to the moon, actually
the moon will bring for them. Logically, this is not easy. A team found little
challenges, like the fact the software Oculus not be able to make simultaneous live
video broadcasts. The Astrobotic signed a contract with SpaceX to launch Andy
the robot with the Falcon 9 rocket, which can occur in 2016. In addition, the
robot has been presented to potential investors. However, it is not only
scientists from Carnegie Mellon University along with Astrobotic who are
wanting the award of $ 30 million. Currently, 18 teams from around the world
compete to win the Google Lunar X-Prize sponsored.
Article: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-29704953
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