Artificial intelligence could run spacecraft in future
February 13th, 2011 - 5:26 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Feb 13 (IANS) Scientists are designing spacecraft that can act by themselves and reason like human beings.
It is a concept that had fatal consequences for astronauts in “2001: A Space Odyssey” after their computer running on artificial intelligence (AI) reasoned it had to kill them in order to continue the mission.
British engineers, supported by European Space Agency (ESA), are developing control systems that can be used in satellites, robotic exploration vehicles and spacecraft capable of controlling themselves.
The space vehicles will be able to learn, identify problems, adapt during missions, carry out repairs and take their own decisions about how best to carry out a task, the Telegraph reports.
Details of the research have emerged as ESA prepares to launch the second of its Automated Transport Vehicles (ATV) to deliver supplies to the International Space Station later this month.
The ATV2, which was designed and built by space company Astrium, will follow a pre-programmed route to the space station before using on-board sensors and collision-avoidance systems to dock safely space station.
ESA has also revealed it has plans to build its first spaceship capable of carrying humans into space and returning them safely to the earth.
Sandor Veres at Southampton University, who has been leading the project to develop AI control systems, said the technology could eventually find its way into spacecraft used to transport human crew.
- Southampton scientists develop control system to allow spacecraft to think for themselves - Feb 01, 2011
- Control system to allow satellites and spacecrafts to think for themselves - Feb 15, 2011
- Russia's manned spacecraft docks with ISS - Dec 24, 2011
- Space station crew lands in Kazakhstan - Apr 27, 2012
- Russia starts building moon spaceship - Jul 20, 2012
- India: From ferrying rockets on cycles to eyeing Mars - Sep 08, 2012
- China plans to launch unmanned space module next year - Mar 03, 2010
- Pilotless target aircraft Lakshya-II successfully tested - Jan 27, 2012
- China prepares for manned space docking this year - Mar 01, 2012
- Russian spacecraft undocks from ISS - Nov 22, 2011
- Private US spacecraft lands in Pacific Ocean - Jun 01, 2012
- India launching satellite to study tropical climate - Sep 10, 2011
- NASA's Orion 'moon' craft that could put man on asteroid unveiled - Mar 23, 2011
- Russia to launch four spacecraft - Sep 14, 2011
- Space station crew land safely in Kazakhstan (Lead) - Nov 22, 2011
Tags: 2001 a space odyssey, artificial intelligence, astrium, atv2, board sensors, british engineers, collision avoidance systems, european space agency, exploration vehicles, fatal consequences, human crew, international space station, london feb, robotic exploration, sandor veres, southampton university, space company, space vehicles, telegraph reports, transport vehicles