Robotic Future · Guided tour

Human choices in robotic cities

Technology, energy and who decides.

Stops: 7
Time: 20 to 30 minutes
Grades: 5-12

**Your guide: Engineer** In an orange flight suitI'm an engineer at the settlement. Robots do a lot of the work here, but people still make the choices. Let's see who decides what.

Stop 1
Power tower
Everything here needs power, all the time. Solar works by day; small nuclear reactors could work through the long lunar night.
What is the most important thing to keep powered in an emergency?
Read the full page about the power tower · Find it on the map
Stop 2
Water recycler
We recycle almost all our water, as astronauts on the space station already do.
What could your home recycle that it doesn't now?
Read the full page about the water recycler · Find it on the map
Stop 3
Robot monument
Small robots take inventory and inspect equipment, saving people time.
Which jobs would you give to a robot? Which would you keep?
Read the full page about the robot monument · Find it on the map
Stop 4
Cargo pod
Self-driving pods carry ice and supplies. Giant self-driving trucks already work in mines on Earth.
Who is responsible if a self-driving vehicle makes a mistake?
Read the full page about the cargo pod · Find it on the map
Stop 5
Robotics factory
Robots build parts from local materials, so less has to be shipped from Earth.
What happens to people's jobs when robots can build things?
Read the full page about the robotics factory · Find it on the map
Stop 6
Settlement operations center
People watch over everything from here and step in when something goes wrong.
Should a robot ever make a decision without asking a person?
Read the full page about the settlement operations center · Find it on the map
Stop 7
Civic dome
Who makes the rules in a settlement? Real treaties already set some rules for space.
How should a small settlement make fair decisions?
Read the full page about the civic dome · Find it on the map