Cool, I want one of these for work on earth! Is there a place to keep my lunch in a cooler? Does it know how to use a Brunton compass? Can I ride on top when I'm tired? Will it watch my back for mountain lions? I'd include a reference library function, too. I'd want all the capabilities of our rovers on Mars. Plus, it could haul my samples around, take pictures, take my notes, make my map in realtime on the computer, take chemical data, drill holes... and not talk back.

The first thing I'd have to do is disable this function:

The chosen activity sets up expectations for the personal agent software describing where the explorer should be and how long the activity should continue. If the astronaut deviates from the plan or the planned location, or stays too long, the personal agent software will verbally warn the astronaut.

That's all I need, a robotic field assistant run by my boss! Telling me I'm taking too much time staring at an outcrop trying to figure out what the heck is going on. It should remember who wields the rock hammer. Sometimes you have to stand, stare, imagine, and hash out the possiblities. I understand the need while on another planet, but I'd not like it here on earth. Field geology, IMHO, requires more than just filling bags with rocks and taking notes.

Thanks for the link, Chris.