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EXPLORER ROBOTS
The only true explorer robots that are already in operation are those developed by NASA and are in
outer space. The majority of these robots are completely self-reliant due to their sensory systems,
however they may also be controlled by humans giving orders through computer commands. The other types
of explorer robots are underground mine exploring robots, seeing and walking undersea robots, and
even bomb defusing robots used by police. You probably know three very good examples of explorer robots! Can
you guess? Well, they are the Voyagers and Sojourner.
The main reason why the only "true" explorer robots are those that are in outer space is because they are
only ones that can not be retreived if a problem should arise. (At least with our present day technology!) All
other robots on the Earth can be retreived, repaired and then
redeployed.
This isn't to say that underwater robots and robots that explore volcanos aren't also a form a explorer robots. However,
these robots aren't completely independant. If a problem occurs underwater, does the robot know what to do? Can it make
a decision with the data that it has been presented with? The answer is most likely "NO." With Sojourner and the
Voyagers, they can make decisions based on new and unpredicatable changes to their surroundings and any internal
problems and that is what distinguishes them from all other explorer robots. (also their cost is $600 to $800 million
more than any other explore robot!)
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