Robohouse

to evaluate extraterrestrial construction systems we
must etablish some common ground, ie evaluation
parameters
in our case they could be:
-minimize payload from earth
-simple assembly
-maximize local materials utilization
-maximum flexiblity
-expansion capability
-use of light construction equipment
-maximum safety to satisfy remote and hostile
environmental conditions
the proposed system, in accordance with this
parameters has several drawbacks
first it needs extremely heavy construction equipment
it must be sent to the locality
unloaded and assembled locally, probably with help of
other heavy equipment to be already there, and human
presence as well .
second the "concrete" locally produced, we call it
concrete for simplification purposes, will require for
vaults or slabs, a structural steel reinforcement
which must come from Earth unless there is a local
steel production unit
third for construction you would need door, windows,
electrical, plumbing and other equipment which must be
produced somewhere
we can add many more drawbacks to this list.
The system proposed is basically a variation of the
tunnel construction system utilized in the sixties for
low cost housing ineurope.
To perform construction in extraterrestrial
environment, we need radically new systems based in
satisfying the design parameters listed, at least in
the preliminary phase before we can build a local
construction capability.
the self replicating system is another goal but it
will follow the preliminary requirements listed above
We can also consider a completely automatic and
unmanned system to build bases for future human
utilization in et environment but i haven't see any
serious proposal yet.

--- Xenophile ha scritto:

--- In spacesettlers, Steve Long wrote:

> levi1_ca wrote:

>> all this is therotical at this time but if
replicators could become
>> actual and reliable then what more would you want -
just send one
>> that could reproduce itself a thousand times and
then stop
>> reproduction - they would dig a big hole utilizing
lunar material to
>> construct modular pieces which then could be
assembled and
>> backfilled quickly -

> But then, wouldn't each of it clones replicate a
thousand times, and
> each of *their* clones ... ???
>
> Steve

There would have to be birth control for von Neumann.
Hope he doesn't
mind.