Repair robots

[Caesar753]

I recently read a few old DC trek comics which feature little robots making hull repairs on the Enterprise. Have such robots ever been referenced on screen? It makes sense to me that every starship would have little robots that could perform basic repairs, especially on the exterior of the hull. This would free up manpower to perform more specialized and complicated duties. Any thoughts?

 

[Timo]

In "Final Mission", the heroes install rocket engines on a space derelict, apparently without resorting to spacewalks. All the action is only shown on the computer screen, not as a direct visual, but the implication seems to be that smallish robots are doing all the assembly work.

http://tng.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/s4/4x09/finalmission115.jpg
http://tng.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/s4/4x09/finalmission120.jpg

That's the closest we get to seeing such things. Which is probably a desirable design feature for the robots: the less obtrusive they are, the better.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[B.J.]

Just like this, right?

Oh wait, wrong franchise. :/

 

[MatthiasRussell]

No, they've never used EVA repair robots. Part of the Jefferies concept was to have as many systems as possible accessible internally so that a crew could avoid EVA. He felt that would make more sense construction-wise and would be more futuristic. It wasn't until VOY and ENT that we saw EVAs somewhat regularly.

Of course, I've thought robotic EVA repair makes sense. I remember Seaquest had maintenance bots controlled by virtual reality controls inside. That makes sense to me for Trek. Have a VR suite where your maintenance guy controls the bot without danger to himself.

 

[Patrickivan]

No, they've never used EVA repair robots. Part of the Jefferies concept was to have as many systems as possible accessible internally so that a crew could avoid EVA. He felt that would make more sense construction-wise and would be more futuristic. It wasn't until VOY and ENT that we saw EVAs somewhat regularly.

Of course, I've thought robotic EVA repair makes sense. I remember Seaquest had maintenance bots controlled by virtual reality controls inside. That makes sense to me for Trek. Have a VR suite where your maintenance guy controls the bot without danger to himself.

While I've always agreed with and liked Jefferies concept of having the systems accessible from the inside, it seems to be quite the statement on your part to conlusively say that no robot has ever been used in an EVA situation (with the exception of on screen of course- then yes, you're right, we've never seen one used in that situation that I can recall).

We've seen automated systems on more then on occassion. The SOL System drones in TNG. The experimental repair robots in TNG that became sentient <sigh>. Data...

So based on that alone, it's plausible that robots have been used for external ship repairs.

 

[Patrickivan]

Just like this, right?

Oh wait, wrong franchise. :/

Oh man, that one on the left is so getting blasted!!!

 

[Jose Tyler]

If my faulty memory is correct, the only other reference to a repair robot (or something similar) I can think of was in the novelization of "The Wrath of Khan". It has something to do with the repair robots being too damaged by radiation to enter the engineering chamber to do repairs, which is why Spock had to go in.

Either that, or my brain is totally making this up...

 

[MatthiasRussell]

No, they've never used EVA repair robots. Part of the Jefferies concept was to have as many systems as possible accessible internally so that a crew could avoid EVA. He felt that would make more sense construction-wise and would be more futuristic. It wasn't until VOY and ENT that we saw EVAs somewhat regularly.

Of course, I've thought robotic EVA repair makes sense. I remember Seaquest had maintenance bots controlled by virtual reality controls inside. That makes sense to me for Trek. Have a VR suite where your maintenance guy controls the bot without danger to himself.

While I've always agreed with and liked Jefferies concept of having the systems accessible from the inside, it seems to be quite the statement on your part to conlusively say that no robot has ever been used in an EVA situation (with the exception of on screen of course- then yes, you're right, we've never seen one used in that situation that I can recall).

We've seen automated systems on more then on occassion. The SOL System drones in TNG. The experimental repair robots in TNG that became sentient <sigh>. Data...

So based on that alone, it's plausible that robots have been used for external ship repairs.

I don't see any issues with my statement or its conclusivity. Ni repair bots were seen in use so pondering their existence is pure speculation. Since we saw crewmen conducting EVAs, it makes sense they had no bots for this function. Though trek never used them, if I were designing a starship, I would want eva droids in reality.

 

[Patrickivan]

No, they've never used EVA repair robots. Part of the Jefferies concept was to have as many systems as possible accessible internally so that a crew could avoid EVA. He felt that would make more sense construction-wise and would be more futuristic. It wasn't until VOY and ENT that we saw EVAs somewhat regularly.

Of course, I've thought robotic EVA repair makes sense. I remember Seaquest had maintenance bots controlled by virtual reality controls inside. That makes sense to me for Trek. Have a VR suite where your maintenance guy controls the bot without danger to himself.

While I've always agreed with and liked Jefferies concept of having the systems accessible from the inside, it seems to be quite the statement on your part to conlusively say that no robot has ever been used in an EVA situation (with the exception of on screen of course- then yes, you're right, we've never seen one used in that situation that I can recall).

We've seen automated systems on more then on occassion. The SOL System drones in TNG. The experimental repair robots in TNG that became sentient <sigh>. Data...

So based on that alone, it's plausible that robots have been used for external ship repairs.

I don't see any issues with my statement or its conclusivity. Ni repair bots were seen in use so pondering their existence is pure speculation. Since we saw crewmen conducting EVAs, it makes sense they had no bots for this function. Though trek never used them, if I were designing a starship, I would want eva droids in reality.

Who was saying that anything we did here wasn't based on speculation? It's our interpretation of what we see and hear.

Fair enough though... The absence of evidence is evidence in itself. No speculation in Star Trek anymore.

Characters in the Star Trek universe also never pooped, because we never actually saw crap exit their poop chutes.

How they had children is beyond me, because I never once saw actual intercourse.

And I'm betting that Picard was a eunuch because we didn't see his dick once! Not Once!

So to sum up, that in the absence of evidence, aside from there NOT being robots in Star Trek, we can also conclude that: no one pooped, fucked, or had dicks.

We do however know that some chicks had boobs, but because we didn't see nipples, I can neither confirm or deny such concepts.

 

[Albertese]

...

And I'm betting that Picard was a eunuch because we didn't see his dick once! Not Once!
...

It turns out eunuchs do have dicks! It's the nuts that go. unless I've had the wrong definition of "dick" all these years...

--Alex

P.S. Picard is the only captain who's butt we've seen, though, so we know that's part of canon!

 

[Patrickivan]

...

And I'm betting that Picard was a eunuch because we didn't see his dick once! Not Once!
...

It turns out eunuchs do have dicks! It's the nuts that go. unless I've had the wrong definition of "dick" all these years...

--Alex

P.S. Picard is the only captain who's butt we've seen, though, so we know that's part of canon!

Aw nuts, I hate it when I'm wrong... My apologies if I've offended any eunuchs out there.

 

[Mr Silver]

If my faulty memory is correct, the only other reference to a repair robot (or something similar) I can think of was in the novelization of "The Wrath of Khan". It has something to do with the repair robots being too damaged by radiation to enter the engineering chamber to do repairs, which is why Spock had to go in.

Yeah it was in the novelisation. It would have been very handy to have such things at that time! IIRC they were referred to as "repair drones".

It seems like most of the time, particulary in the 24th century Trek that automated repairs are performed by the computer. A lot of reroutes occur. Its incredible to think that there aren't any mechanical units that can do some of the riskier work, particulary in a crisis.

 

[zar]

Exocomp?

 

[SWHouston]

Synthetic/Automated Personnel Units:

 

[MatthiasRussell]

The exocomps. Very good point. They were repair bots. TNG also featured nanobots. Certainly these could conduct eva. I'm glad someone could continue this discussion in a mature and intelligent way.

 

[SonicRanger]

Riker: "That isn't necessary. The ship will clean itself."
Brenna: "Well, good for the bloody ship."

So the ship cleans itself with, presumably, 24th-century Roombas.

 

[Timo]

We might argue that UFP robotic technology has already progressed beyond the macroscopic stage and the use of clumsy physical manipulators, and nowadays relies almost exclusively on miniature or microscopic machines, or machines integrated seamlessly to the walls of the starship, and replaces most physical manipulation with transporter and forcefield activity.

This would help explain why Data is the only sentient android out there: androids are an outdated technology, of no interest to anybody - except for the eccentric scientist who wants to find the rare application where his new positronic technology will outperform more conventional alternatives. Androids and sentience are both old news in UFP robotics, but the combining of the two is only possible with the compact positronic brain, which is why Soong decides to perfect this technology into one spectacular triumph to be remembered. And which is why, even after decades of work and possibly dozens of more or less sentient androids, he hesitates to reveal Lore or Data or even the wonderful Julianna Tainer to the world.

The Exocomps were supposed to make full use of on-the-spot replication, not only in creating necessary spare parts, but even in redoing themselves into better tools in real time. One wonders if the clumsy-looking manipulators of the 24th century workbees of ST:NEM aren't in fact replicator-adjustable as well...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Albertese]

Remember that little RC car thing in "Rascals?" I expect the original intent of that thing was that it was a toy from the children's area pressed into service as a Ferengi distracting tactical device, but in my head, I always thought it'd be cool if that was actually a "24th Century roomba" or some other maintenance bot that young Picard and company used to distract the Ferengi. It's never really stated for sure what that thing is and it's shape doesn't reveal any obvious purpose either.

May or may not just be a toy.

--Alex

 

[SonicRanger]

^^^

A DRD? http://farscape.wikia.com/wiki/Diagnostic_Repair_Drone

 

[Patrickivan]

...