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Curiosity to Receive 'Brain Transplant' This Weekend — Parallax Forums

Curiosity to Receive 'Brain Transplant' This Weekend

Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
edited 2012-08-31 17:35 in General Discussion
http://news.yahoo.com/mars-rover-curiosity-receive-brain-transplant-weekend-205741531.html


Curiosity is getting a major update, switching over from software optimized for entry, descent and landing to programs designed to help the robot roam and study Red Planet rocks and soil, mission team members said.

The transition will involve both Curiosity's main and backup computers, and it should take four Martian days — or Sols, in mission lingo — to complete.

Comments

  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2012-08-10 16:00
    Let us all pray it is not a Microsoft update!!!!!
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2012-08-10 16:22
    I have been following things and I am continually amazed at how well everything has been going. I love NASA's "Be a Martian" app for Android (search for it on Google Play market). It gives me easy access to the latest images and status.

    Could you imagine the fear of bricking the rover with a software update? I wonder how many failsafes are in place for that. Anyone have a 157 million mile USB cable?
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2012-08-10 17:16
    WBA Consulting wrote: »
    Could you imagine the fear of bricking the rover with a software update? I wonder how many failsafes are in place for that. Anyone have a 157 million mile USB cable?

    Good question :)

    Of course NASA has done this before. There's no need to fear ....


    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT-3rQIks3B4Uoyt27mu5DlNuSkaMq0qwnFa4B_zdsGSbOBKtS9
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2012-08-10 17:40
    WBA Consulting wrote: »
    Could you imagine the fear of bricking the rover with a software update? I wonder how many failsafes are in place for that. Anyone have a 157 million mile USB cable?

    At least before the launch they didn't accidentally put the roaming programs on instead of the entry and descent programs. Which brings up a question: if they had, would the roaming program still be able to at least make a basic attempt at landing?
  • rod1963rod1963 Posts: 752
    edited 2012-08-10 18:21
    No Microsoft garbage on board. Curiosity uses a PPC MB from BAE(licensed IP from Freescale CorIQ line).

    I still remember when Microsoft disabled a entire Naval destroyer when it's NT OS did a BSOD. What a clown shop and that's what the Navy gets for relying on WinTel platform and software you can buy at Wal-Mart.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,260
    edited 2012-08-10 19:48
    Is this Andy's venerable "Roaming with PING"? :)
  • lardomlardom Posts: 1,659
    edited 2012-08-10 20:04
    I've been checking the Nasa site daily. I think a lot of us are following this pretty closely.
    I hope "install" means R10 was 'zipped' and that it doesn't mean the apps (or OS) have to be downloaded. That seems risky.
  • HollyMinkowskiHollyMinkowski Posts: 1,398
    edited 2012-08-31 17:35
    Imagine if you were the person that wrote the bootloader! <GASP>

    I am inclined to worry over my code to total exhaustion...testing
    and re-testing everything until everyone involved is sick of the sight
    of me ..lol

    I'd still be testing that damned curiosity bootloader and it would still
    be on the ground waiting..... guess it's good I don't work at JPL.
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