That’s right, we’re visiting the volcano. This is no science fiction story, we promise. According to Cheryl York, a researcher for NASA and other space development groups, they have found an impressive way to use the product.

Cheryl says that they go into volcanoes (she didn’t specify dormant or active, but we’re going to guess dormant), and explore lava tubes. Lava Tubes are basically caves that run down the sides of a volcano. They were created by lava flowing from the volcano, all of it trying to take the easiest route down the cone. As the lava continued to flow, then cool, it began to solidify and harden, forming a hollow tube.

Cheryl’s group studies those tubes. "Our long-term interest is using lava tubes on the moon and Mars to shelter bases and colonies," she says. When we finally get out there to colonize the moon, or another planet such as Mars, those lava tubes will be our new home.

X10's ActiveHome comes into play when those tubes are too small for humans to fit into. They program ActiveHome to control a robot explorer so they can get further into the tube and study it. They can control the robot either from a computer set up just a few feet away, or from the remote control while they’re down inside the larger area of the tube.

"X10 is helping us create humanity’s future home in space… Now!" Cheryl said.

Wow! We’ve always felt that we were building the house of the future, today, but in space too? This is too incredible!

Send comments or feedback on this article to xzone@x10.com

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