USC Mercury Project: Interface

Note: The Robot has been decommissioned, so please consider all of the following in the past tense.

The robot is currently positioned over a dry-earth quadrant known to contain numerous artifacts. There is a camera fixed to its robotic arm, pointing directly down. This camera will return a new image after each arm movement.

NAVIGATION
When you are the robot operator, you may execute vertical and horizontal movements according to the following interface:

(Click in the control panel to see an animation of robot movement - 175K)

• This image is a clickable map: you can click on any part of the image and the arm will move to center itself over that spot. The new image will then be returned to you.
  
• The arm can be moved between 2 fixed vertical positions:
• Moves the arm to its distant position from the surface.
• Moves the arm to its close position to the surface.
  
• In the close position only, you may deliver a pulse of compressed air to clear debris from an area on the surface:
• Air pulse

The frame on the right displays the position of the arm within the available quadrant.

• This is also a clickable map: you can click on any part of the quadrant (i.e., the area within the crescent-shaped border) and the arm will move to center itself over that spot. The new image will then be returned to you.
  
• The position of the arm is marked by X,Y and Z coordinates, given at the lower right.

OTHER INDICATORS
For those persons observing the robot or waiting to operate the robot: you must click the button marked UPDATE to receive the latest image from the robot.
Throughout the interface this button should be clicked to execute an indicated function.

ENERGY
Your initial energy allotment will operate the robot for a maximum of 5 minutes. Your energy reserves are indicated by the following gage:

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• ENERGY LEVEL

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• As your energy is consumed the gage indicators will change to red, moving toward zero energy at the far left.

LEVEL-1 CLEARANCE
If you feel you are sufficiently familiar with the interface and the robot, you may proceed for Clearance. Once you have been cleared for Level-1 Robot Operation, you will be issued an operator's password.