Log Book for January 12, 2011
Science Report 3
Lucinda Land Reporting
After having issues yesterday with the computer, we decided that today we would connect the router to the computer using an ethernet cable. That proved helpful as Maxnet instantly connected to Sandstorm. We connected inside the Hab and then moved both the rover and the computer/router system outside.
Jim took the rover on the same path as with the router on the inside of the Hab. This time though the router was situated outside of the Hab. The router logged a total of 241.40 meters with the router on the outside of the Hab. This was about a 35 meter increase in distance over using the router inside the Hab. Not a significant increase in distance.
The biggest issue in using the rover is battery life. If we could have batteries that lasted longer on the rover we could take her farther. That was proven on the EVA when Jim carried Sandstorm out to the farthest point that she had been to and took her farther. Unfortunately her batteries are her limitation. We did not fully test her range. Jim could have carried her to the farthest point that her batteries lasted to see how much farther outward she could go. But other issues impede her progress such as the hilly terrain around the Hab. When she is not in sight of the router the signal diminishes and either her movement slows or stops.
Video feed was intermittent, but for the most part was not functioning. In short range Sandstorm's video works great. It was always kept at the second to lowest level of resolution.
Tomorrow I will taker her out to take snapshots of the local geology as well as take Gigapan images.