FC01%USC-ECL@sri-unix.UUCP (06/21/83)
A very good reason for using AI instead of hardware is that taking extra hardware to the moon is quite expensive. The weight of AI is nearly zero. In addition, the reliability of a system decreases with increased quantity of hardware, and thus the HW is kept to a minimum for that reason. The power required for extra hardware is nontrivial, and power is a critical factor in a space vehical. Communication delays to a system on the dark side of the moon are infinite (the signal never gets there). In a valley, the system may be obscured from earth signals for a short time, and therefore be lost until the moon rotates on its axis again, etc. [Orbiting repeaters could be used to eliminate most of the communications problems. The Space Digest has also carried a proposal for conducting the remote manipulations from orbital or lunar stations in order to reduce the response delay. -- KIL]
ucbesvax.turner@ucbcad.UUCP (06/30/83)
#R:sri-arpa:-258100:ucbesvax:1100002:000:459 ucbesvax!turner Jun 30 00:57:00 1983 Another contribution to the growing class of "NOW WAIT A MINUTE" notes: The weight of AI is nearly zero. Tell me that when you can lift a LISP machine in one hand. In addition, the reliability of a system decreases with increased quantity of hardware, Are ECC chips on RAM boards an "increased quantity of hardware"? Consider the electrical shielding problems above the atmosphere. Let's be little more cautious here... Flame Off, Michael Turner