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According to IEEE Spectrum a proposed robot lawnmower from iRobot (developers of the Roomba) has astronomers concerned about the proposed design.
In order to provide the robot lawnmower with information about position iRobot are proposing to use wireless beacons in the 6240-6740 MHz range, which covers a region of the radio spectrum the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) uses for observations, and iRobot would like the FCC to allow them to operate in this protected spectrum by issuing a waiver:
As you might expect, the NRAO got a little bit upset that iRobot wanted to set up its beacons to broadcast on a protected frequency, because they're worried that people's lawn mower beacons would start to mess with their radio astronomy data. So, they’ve filed a comment to that effect on iRobot's FCC waiver application, to which iRobot responded, and then NRAO responded to that.
We’ve read through these documents (including iRobot’s waiver application, NRAO’s comments, iRobot’s response, and NRAO’s reply), and they’re full of amusingly passive-aggressive commentary from both sides as they argue back and forth in front of the FCC.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 10 2015, @11:36PM
It would be a shame if you had to pay a fine for not mowing it. That's right, mowing your lawn is required by law. You can't afford to take chances with your lawn, like having a bunch of egghead astronomers messing up your mowing robot with radio waves.
Mandatory mowing ordinance : 1
Radio astronomy observatory : 0
(Score: 3, Interesting) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday April 11 2015, @02:44AM
When I lived in Truro, Nova Scotia I did not own a lawn mower. I was real busy with my work and just never got around to hiring someone else to mow it.
Eventually I received a notice that if I didn't mow my lawn, the Town of Truro would mow it for me then send me a bill. I hired someone to do it after that.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 11 2015, @03:43AM
Yes it is required, usually by local ordinance. Also, don't explain the joke.
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Saturday April 11 2015, @04:40AM
"...mowing your lawn is required by law."
Not in California these days. You are not allowed to water your lawn, what with the drought.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--