Electronics

Electronics is a technology for automation and the basis for modern information technology. For remote controlled explorations and during the setup phase of a settlement on Mars it is required for radio link and data processing.

Electron tube

This is the oldest kind of electronics. It is made from glass and metal. Compared with semiconductor electronics the tubes are big, power consuming, but they are easy to produce. They are radiation-proof, which makes it suitable for long term applications under Martian environmental conditions. Nevertheless, the wear lifespan is limited by abrasion of the heating electrode.

Semiconductors

This is the modern kind of electronics. It allows ultra-compact devices with low power consumption, but it requires a hi-tech industry to produce the material and the structures. Since the material is damageable by radiation, it must be shielded carefully and has a limited wear lifespan depending on the intensity of the radiation. The electrical parameters are strongly influences by the temperature.

See also

• Pneumatics
• Electricity

This article is a stub. You can help Marspedia by expanding it.