Over the last couple of weeks I have read many news articles covering The Synergy Moon and its plans to use NVIDIA's Tegra 3 system for its rovers, The Tesla Prospector and The Tesla Survivor. The articles were also referring to my previous collaboration (ESA version) with the European Space Agency and my PhD research for the for the ITALK Project supported by FP7 Programme of European Union and coordinated by my supervisor Angelo Cangelosi.
I can confirm that the rumours regarding our use of NVIDIA's Tegra 3 system were correct, however, I noticed that publishers often confused CUDA with Tegra 3. We are proud to work with Tegra 3 next-generation systems featuring quadcore processors, 12 GPU processors and one additional companion core. We are of course aware of the harsh conditions in space and on the lunar surface and I can assure you that we have got specific plans how to tackle this and protect Tegra 3 system in our rovers. Tegra 3 combines all the benefits we would hoped for such as low power consumption, small size and low weight and fantastic processing speeds. Tegra 3 also includes 12 GPU (graphics processing unit), which are great for processing parallel problems. My whole PhD research has been very positively influenced by NVIDIA's technology and also by NVIDIA's staff who encouraged me to carry on with my efforts.
Couple of years ago I read an article that used NVIDIA's CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) to implement neural networks running on GPU processors as opposed to standard CPU processors. The article inspired me a lot because it helped me to realise that GPUs are ideal for cognitive robotics research where we develop complex bio-inspired systems that are by nature parallel. I have started development of CUDA-based software named after constellation Aquila. Aquila has been very successful and helped me to demonstrate the power of NVIDIA's GPUs when used for cognitive robotics research. This led to couple of articles featured on NVIDIA's website and later to my visit to NVIDIA's headquarters where I did a presentation about my PhD research and involvement with The Google Lunar X PRIZE Synergy Moon team. Later, we received the Tegra 3 system and we are going to use it to develop state of the art AI system for the rovers.
NVIDIA has been a great inspiration and I have even started my own business (ProIS Group) that utilize the power of GPUs in the industrial sector. If everything goes well, The Synergy Moon team will launch two rovers controlled by Tegra 3 systems, which will be the first time ever when NVIDIA's products reached other celestial body.
Press Coverage:
Google Lunar X Contest Produces a Tegra Based Moon RoverNVIDIA Goes to the Moon with CUDA and Tegra 3Moon Rover will be powered by NVIDIA Tegra Nvidia's Tegra 3 chip to be used in experimental moon roverGoogle lunar X PRIZE: Tegra 3 CPU is used into moon vehicleCUDA Goes to the Moon and Gets GreenerNVIDIA Tegra Powers Rover That Will Land on the MoonNvidia Tegra Systems May Get A Ticket To The MoonTegra 3 to be used in moon rover Burst of Media Coverage Concerning nVidia TechnologyTegra 3 Heading for the Skies?Tegra 3 será o cérebro do veículo lunar do desafio Google Lunar X-PrizeNVIDIA Tegra 3 protagonista di una missione sulla Luna!Il chip NVIDIA Tegra 3 va sulla LunaNvidia Tegra 3 poderá ir para Lua a bordo de uma sonda em 2012 Nvidias Tegra 3 soll auf dem Mond fahrenNvidia: Tegra 3 und CUDA sollen Mondfahrzeug steuernGoogle sulla Luna con il Tegra 3 di Nvidia
The NVIDIA Tegra Chip 3 go to the moon!
NVIDIA Tegra 3 to the moon a-NVIDIA, Tegra 3, the moon, Synergy Moon, Martin Peniak
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