Robots to the rescue for the ailing Hubble?

"Almost unnoticed, Akin and his team at College Park have spent 14 years - and $14 million of NASA's money - developing a robot called Ranger to repair and upgrade orbiting satellites, particularly Hubble."

The photo of Ranger suggests it's at least somewhat anthropomorphic. If this thing actually does the job, move over Spirit and Opportunity. In fact, efforts like Ranger may be the catalyst the robotics field needs to make its wares more limber and user-friendly. The technologies involved -- assuming Ranger isn't a simple remote-controlled drone -- could have an advantageous impact on attempts to simulate human vision/pattern recognition here on Earth. The cost, of course, seems to be humans in space in the near-future. But part of me wonders if it might actually be worth it.

By the way, I'm now a member of the sTaRe network (see sidebar).

And no, my cold isn't any better.