Giant Cross Seen In Curiosity Image

[Littleenki]

I don't trust wireless.

Also, could it be possible that wireless would be more likely to be affected by radiation?

Right on ArMaP. You cant stop a signal in a hard wired system without breaking the wire or shielding...still though..why SO exposed?

Cheers!

[The Matrix Traveller]

This is interesting...

"Wind blown dust and dirt"     is an Engineers worst nightmare around Solenoids, Actuators and any Hydraulics.
The problem is keeping foreign matter away from armatures, even with dust covers some fines always find there way through.

http://parker-solenoid-valves.solenoidvalvess.com/electric-actuators/

http://www.smcusa.com/news-events/transfer-loads-rapidly-with-low-profile-electric-actuator-slide.aspx

The other enemy of Synthetic or even rubber based "dust boots" is UV.

Anyone know the Levels of UV radiation on Mars, compared with that which reaches the surface of our Planet ?

Ozone and Rubber are the worst of enemies, (I have sold large "Ozone Generators" in the past used in Environmental applications) but I don't know IF Ozone exists on Mars.

Does anyone know the levels of ground born Radiation and their source. Or incoming cosmic radiation ?

[mikeybandb]

List of pdf files of standard NASA Practices...

http://engineer.jpl.nasa.gov/practices/

[The Matrix Traveller]

Right on ArMaP. You cant stop a signal in a hard wired system without breaking the wire or shielding...still though..why SO exposed?

Cheers!

Remember the wiring around "Robotic Arms" and "Turrets" etc. have to go through a huge amount of Flexing and often, if designed the way shown in the photos.
Comes down to basic design practices in the end.

And don't forget that UV Radiation, it is a nightmare even on Earth, and we have an Ozone layer.

[The Matrix Traveller]

List of pdf files of standard NASA Practices...

http://engineer.jpl.nasa.gov/practices/

Good find mikeybandb.  Really appreciate your work and time.   

So now let's check these specs. against the design in the Photos... keeping in mind basic design criteria.

[ArMaP]

One reason I see for external wiring is that is always visible, so in case of a problem they can check to see if it's something wrong with the cables or not.

But that's just an idea.

[mikeybandb]

Good find mikeybandb.  Really appreciate your work and time.   

So now let's check these specs. against the design in the Photos... keeping in mind basic design criteria.

                                                                 

[The Matrix Traveller]

One reason I see for external wiring is that is always visible, so in case of a problem they can check to see if it's something wrong with the cables or not.

But that's just an idea.

As I have Designed and Manufactured Automotive Control Computers in the past, (my own Co.)
I can tell you there will be "housekeeping" programs checking circuits, in their systems.

In our designs as well as other Companies, such programs are standard practices.

These often include "back up" systems, including hardware, if involved with such missions visiting other Planets etc. I suspect (If designed correctly?)

[The Matrix Traveller]

Perhaps "Fiber Optics" would provide a more reliable Data network, especially if shielded i.e. if all was installed Internally.

There are solid state junctions, involving Fiber Optics which can be used around elbows and turrets.

As for powering "Actuators" and "Solenoids" etc. some form of power transmission is required in our present Technology, but this should also be Shielded and kept internal. (inside Robotic arms etc.)

Computers are at present being developed using Optical networks from nano technologies, which will undoubtedly replace our methods used at present.