Scientists
at the academic institution have begun research for space agency Nasa
which wants to send robots to Mars - complete with a Scouse brain.
The
American agency has asked Liverpool researchers to develop software for
robots who, they hope, will be able to think for themselves and carry
out pioneering space travel to the Red Planet - all on their own..
Professor
Michael Fisher, the director of Liverpool University's Verification
Laboratory, said: "Robots would be able to think for themselves to
carry out technical work in space.
"Autonomy is a major cost driver for space exploration since human missions require large earth-based teams for support.
"Nasa is currently working with us to develop programs which will make their own decisions.
"There are also significant risks posed to humans sent into space."
The
Liverpool team is not only developing software programmes that will
provide artificial intelligence for the robots, but also keep them in
check.
Prof Fisher said: "Our job is to develop software to make sure robots don't do things they are not supposed to.
"This
is very futuristic but it won't be anything like iRobot or science
fiction films as the robots won't move very fast and will not have a
huge capacity to think on their own."
The idea is that the robots would be able to build space stations and complete entire missions on their own.
And in the future, it is thought, they would even be designed to look like humans.
Senior
Nasa Science Researcher Maarten Sierhnis, based in Mountain View,
California, arrives in Liverpool today to liaise with Liverpool
University scientists.
Before his arrival, he said: "In the future, there will be much about these robots that is similar to humans.
"In
the USA, we have a robot working on equipment that has the form of a
human torso with a head which has two cameras in it and fingers that
move like a human. It sits on a platform with wheels. We thought about
adding legs but, on Mars, it would be easier for robots to have wheels
rather than legs.
"What we
are looking at is a situation where robots go to the Moon first to
build greenhouses for food and other infrastructure. Then humans will
be able to use the Moon as a base to go on to Mars.
"It's incredibly exciting. "Going to Mars is a much more complicated process than going to the Moon.
"We
will need to have robots manning stations and building infrastructure
before humans even arrive. With the help of these robots, it's not
inconceivable to think that we could have humans on Mars by 2030.
"We
will never replace humans. The robots will not be able to act and think
exactly like a human but they can support humans and work for them by
fixing technology and systems quickly if something goes wrong."
The
university research team is currently designing a verification
laboratory system so that the robots could be kept in check and would
not deviate from the commands given to them by their human employers.
The Nasa robots are being tested in the Utah desert before being
transported into space.
Prof Fisher added: "It is still in the very futuristic stage at this point and will take years to develop."
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