Lego Mindstorms In Space

ribbiting writes: "A father-son team have won the "Ultimate Builder Competition" (Lego Mindstorms) with their entry named "Jitter". The robot will fly to the ISS in November. It fits (whole) into a approx. 1'x1'x1' box and weighs less than 3 lbs. It's main mission is to collect small, flying debris. It can interact with the station walls and crew and supposedly has some light "mischief" programmed in as well (sneaking up on people, dancing). The story can be found here, de.news.yahoo.com, it's in German (sorry)." We mentioned the contest a few months ago. Altavista gives a semi-readable machine translation.

Sneaking up on people?

[FortKnox]

Is "Sneaking up on people" such a good idea in something as stressful as a space station?

I give it two months before an astronaut "accidentally" blasts it out an airlock...

Beer-Maid-o-Tron

[Mr. Eradicator]

Now if they could mod that robot so it would fetch a beer on voice command, that would be sweet.

Let me guess...

[Masem]

...it also sings 'Daisy, Daisy' if you start taking it apart?

Or is that a DMCA violation? :-)

Robot in space?

[Popoi]

I can see it now..

"Open the pod bay doors Jitter."

Oh really..

[Dolly_Llama]

It's main mission is to collect small, flying debris.

You mean small flying debris, like loose 1x3 Lego Blocks?

Re:Sneaking up on people?

[Chundra]

Agreed. But I hear the Russians are still really into "ABC-123". They couldn't afford to pay Michael so they settled for Tito.

Are they sending it up pre-assembled?

[albamuth]

It would make more sense if they sent it all up like all LEGO kits come (minus the excessive packaging).I imagine astronauts hanging (floating) around, scratching their heads over cartoony instructions:

"Dimitri, I need a 1 x 6 block. Nyet, a block, not plank!"

Every Mom will want one

[T1girl]

... to fly around the house and pick up all those little Lego(s)left lying around on the floor, the ones she's always stepping on in the dark when checking on the kids at night.

Re:Robot in space?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sorry Dennis (Tito), I can't do that.

Re:Translated via a silly Machine

[big_hairy_mama]

"Impulse drive", eh? These mindstorms are more advanced than I thought...

Fun Toys in Space

[AndroidCat]

If I was going to take something fun into space, it would be one of those battery-powered traveller fans -- just the thing for flying around the inside of Alpha or the shuttle. (Outside it would be rather pointless, of course. :^) Could be useful for collecting loose potato chips too!

Reversing the battery will change the fan from a pusher into a puller prop.

"space station IIS"

[PHAEDRU5]

"IIS"? Am I the only one wondering what son of Nimda will do to this thing? Should I be buying space station repellent?

ISS is modular...

[Anonymous Coward]

But this is crazy! I thought the Canadarm had a few more years of useful life left.

Hmmm... Lego-based IIS components wouldn't be a bad way to go, I think. Just fire up a case of pieces and have the crew build whatever they need!

Re:Every Mom will want one

[AndroidCat]

...the problem of arranging for the house to be in zero-G is left as an excercise for the student...

Just how robust is LEGO?

[plalonde2]

I guess my biggest worry is when it breaks... little bricks everywhere, and no more robot to pick them up.

I assume they'll glue it together before sending it up. At least that will avoid the self-modifying trojan LEGO monster issue...

Re:Other Possibilities

[AndroidCat]

Another possibility is a mobile alarm clock that looks for people if it has not been turned off, and wakes them up.

Why do I get this mental picture of a relentless, unstoppable robotic alarm clock (with an Austrian accent) that's going to come find you and wake you up, no matter where you are?

Re:Let me guess...

[mestreBimba]

No it says
"Dave, what are you doing Dave?"

"Will I dream?"

Just to be safe...

[edashofy]

Just to be safe, in case the robot gets out of hand, I think we should ship Sigourney Weaver up there with it.

Wow

[ryanwright]

It can interact with the station walls and crew and supposedly has some light "mischief" programmed in as well (sneaking up on people, dancing).

Can you imagine a Beowulf cluster of...
Oh, nevermind...

translation

[Anonymous Coward]

Of 124 participants in the competition also the slogan "Lego Mindstorms the last ten met goes space" to the final in Munich.

all your base are belong to us?

Re:Google translation

[killmenow]

you might also try Google's Translation

Eef unly eet voud trunsleet eentu Bork! Bork! Bork!

Careful what you wish for

[BluePenguin]

If you build a lego robot to pick up loose parts, it might enhance itself with those parts.

"We will adapt, Resistance is Futile..."

Re:ISS is modular...

[freakonaleash881]

Hmmm... Lego-based IIS components wouldn't...

It was reported today on the geek news forum Slashdot that a joint venture between software giant Microsoft and beloved toy maker LEGO to create a new web server out of LEGO bricks.

Hey, maybe it would help the stability of IIS =P

To all moderators on crack - It's supposed to be funny. Laugh.

Lego "Alive" edition.

[Ukab the Great]

I can just imagine astronauts desperate for fun being forced to cannabalize the thing.

Wow!

[G-funk]

The robot will fly to the ISS in November. It fits (whole) into a approx. 1'x1'x1' box and weighs less than 3 lbs.

Wow. These guys could sure cut some costs at nasa. Nasa can't fly to the ISS without rockets as tall as buildings, weighing tonnes, and costing billions!

*rimshot*