Center for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering

Mars Rover Model Funds Outreach

The Center for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering (CNSE) at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has an unusual new funding source for its educational outreach efforts: fees from sales of toys and models based on the Mars rovers.

Caltech, which runs the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA, patented the twin rovers sent to investigate the surface of Mars and is licensing their images for commercial use. One of the licensees is Danish toy maker Lego Co., which is now marketing a build-it-yourself version of the Spirit rover.

The toy was based on drawings supplied by Caltech, retails for $89.99, contains 858 plastic pieces, and is recommended for children age 10 and up. Among the first to receive the kits were the Nobel laureates, industry executives, astronauts and others who sit on Caltech's board of trustees. "All these super scientists, including Nobel Prize winners, were totally gaga over it," according to Frederic Farina, assistant director of Caltech's office of technology transfer. Lego expects to sell a few million dollars' worth of its Mars toys, including a smaller, less complicated set that has 417 pieces.

Caltech has also licensed another company to produce a collectible, one-tenth-scale model rover that sells for $150 and a third company to make larger models destined for museums.

Officials of Caltech pledged to donate half the proceeds to educational outreach programs. One such program was a one-day conference on robotics for teams of middle school students and their teachers, led by CNSE co-president Ann Polsenberg and held in May 2004.

To learn more about this topic:
Visit the research page at the Center for Neuromophic Systems Engineering at:
http://www.outreach.caltech.edu/mars_robotics/conference.html. Also go to http://www.erc.caltech.edu/calendar.html#and scroll down to May 2004 Lego Robotics Conference and select "View Pictures."

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The Lego Sprit Rover is fun to assemble, and Caltech
is donating half its proceeds to educational outreach
programs..

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Last modified: February 22, 2005