Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!sun-barr!newstop!sun!stpeter.Eng.Sun.COM!cmcmanis From: cmcmanis@stpeter.Eng.Sun.COM (Chuck McManis) Newsgroups: comp.robotics Subject: Re: Micro rovers vs. Stompers Message-ID: <138360@sun.Eng.Sun.COM> Date: 4 Jul 90 05:42:35 GMT References: <9792@pt.cs.cmu.edu> <25610@unix.cis.pitt.edu> Sender: news@sun.Eng.Sun.COM Distribution: all Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca. Lines: 15 I know this is probably beating a dead rover :-) but what is the requirement for rovers to have a local power source? Suppose for a moment that it were possible to place into Mars orbit 1 or more "powersats" that could convert larger quantities of solar power into reasonably tightly directed microwave beams down to the rovers. There will certainly be losses due to the atmosphere but that would not be nearly as severe as say on Earth where such an idea was considered. Just a posibly ludicrous idea ... -- --Chuck McManis Sun Microsystems uucp: {anywhere}!sun!cmcmanis BIX: Internet: cmcmanis@Eng.Sun.COM These opinions are my own and no one elses, but you knew that didn't you. "I tell you this parrot is bleeding deceased!"