US - Astronomers say Roomba gadget interferes with sensitive telescopes

[QDP2012]

"Our quest for the perfect garden could be ruining our chances of making contact with ET.

This is according to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory who is objecting to proposals by iRobot to release a radio wave-guided lawnmower.

It claims iRobot's machines will interfere with its sensitive radio telescopes which astronomers are using to pick up signs of alien life." -- DailyMail.co.uk

Could a lawnmower scupper our chances of finding aliens? Astronomers say Roomba gadget interferes with sensitive telescopes -- DailyMail.co.uk

 

[mmckenna]

There are plenty of slices of spectrum to put this in. No reason to put it in the middle of an established/used band.
More than likely this is the old trick of asking for something absolutely ridiculous so your second choice sounds more sane.
Lazy way of mowing the lawn does't justify interfering with an established user like scientific exploration.. I'd like to hope the FCC would deny the iRobot request, but we all pretty much can agree that the FCC and our electromagnetic spectrum is for sale to the highest bidder.