Interesting post, Raoul. Where do you find this stuff?

From the picture, the person in that suit isn't all THAT close to the ground. Makes ME wonder. What it would take to eliminate the need for a person in that suit. Maybe have a Habitat with a person protected from radiation, heat, cold, etc., nearby controlling robots.

Stereoscopic color vision, for one, I'd think. I wouldn't think that's too far off, the display might be the problem. As chips get smaller and smaller, they get more powerful, that seems almost within reach. Maybe.

"Hands" with feedback. As with vision, that would seem to be a function of chips and motors, which are also getting to be more responsive.

An ability to pound, dig, scrape, and so on. Backhoe technology in miniature, maybe with something besides hydraulics providing the transmission of power. On Earth the people operating large, bulky backhoes can be as tender as a new mother.

Energy. Batteries and solar power.

Cooling and heating. That would seemingly be easier for machines.

A tractor capability to bring back a disabled robot to the Habitat for repair. Could also bring back samples.

Mobility. Oddly, that would seem to me to be maybe the hardest feature of Man to duplicate. We do a darned good job of getting around. And, there are quite mobile robots, and balance is one of the items on which there is great progress.

I'm sure there is much, much more, and that folks out there know what it is. But maybe it will be Man and Machine, not just Man who does the exploration.

Ship the Habitat, ship the robots, and then send the Man. Might be cheaper and almost as effective. Might not even have to land him, just have him in a virtual robot controlling the one on the ground in real time.

A thought. What the hell.

Arf