Do you think humanoid robots will ever replace the older probe style lander robots sometime down the road?

Question

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/research/exploringtheuniverse/robots_human_coop.html

I'm just not sure they will be practical.

Answer 1

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idk maybe someday.

Answer 2

Adding to mike's comment, even if we were to, it would be complete bogus to send a 'humanoid' probe to Mars or another planet. Not to mention it would be completely pointless. It would be so much more gratitual if we sent actual HUMANS for further foreseeing for many reasons but the top two: 1. To see how actual humans can interact in the enviornment. 2. To create such a bigger accomplishment.

It's so much better to say "Oh hey, I sent a human to Mars!" than to say "Oh yeah, I sent a human-like PROBE to Mars!"

Tell me which you think sounds more worth doing, we'll talk then.

Answer 3

The advantage of humanoid robots (if they don't weigh too much) is that they can function in the same spaces as humans - tall narrow hallways with storage above and below and with steps while being able to step over objects.   They have no advantages in probe type environments and humanoid form adds massive complications - mostly related to balance and multiple joints in grippers.

Answer 4

No. If I were to design a rover, I would not design it to be too much like a human. I think that is an impractical and unstable design for such a purpose. Our form has evolved and served us well, but exploration of alien worlds has different demands from our terrestrial heritage, and the devices will never have our sophisticated brains and abilities.  But they will be given other abilities, in various designs, which will serve their purposes well.

As an example I suggest automotive production robots. Notice how utterly un-anthropomorphic many of them are.  I think the next stage in planetary exploration robots will look something like spiders.