Remember Robby the Robot, the six foot talking robot in Forbidden Planet? How about the slightly sinister one in Irwin Allen’s Lost in Space? If not you probably grew up watching the android Commander Data discovering his ‘human side’ in Star Trek. Great fiction but it is about to come true. When the Space Shuttle Discovery makes its final flight from the Kennedy Space Center on the 24 February 2011, as well as spare supplies and vital spare parts for the International Space Station, the STS-133 mission is also expected to include Robonaut 2, known as ‘R2’ - the first human-like robot in space.
Space Robots?
Planned as the only permanent resident of the station, Robonaut 2 aims to help engineers understand how dexterous robots behave in space. It is expected that this information could eventually enable the development of a human-like robot which can work outside the space station, helping human space walkers with maintenance repairs and scientific work. R2 will be test operated inside the International Space Station’s Destiny laboratory.
Steve Lindsey, who is now in pre-flight preparation as Mission Commander for the STS-133 mission, said “R2 is a technology demonstrator of a humanoid like robot. They’ve been testing it on the ground but they want to see how it’s going to work in a zero G environment. As far as what it will do in the future, a big part of it is going to be what tasks are best for a robot to do.”
NASA's Humanoid prototypes
There are four different ‘Robonaut’ designs, with others in development. NASA scientists are experimenting with articulated hands and arms that mimic human movement. They stress that this is no gimmick, however, as an anthropomorphic robot with a ‘humanoid’ design can use the same workspace and tools as the real space crew members and doesn’t need specialised robotic connectors.
Robonaut 2 has been developed in a research partnership between NASA and General Motors at a cost of $2.5 million (just over £1.5 million). John Olson, director of NASA's Exploration Systems Integration Office, said ‘This project exemplifies the promise that a future generation of robots can have both in space and on Earth, not as replacements for humans but as companions that can carry out key supporting roles’.
Twitter Robot with a strong following
NASA hopes that Robonaut 2 will help it to continue creating interest in space science after the last shuttle flight is over. Robonaut 2 has already established a strong following on Twitter, where it is keeping 20,000 followers up to date on @AstroRobonaut with preparations for launch. Once it is in space Robonaut 2 will continue to keep followers informed of its work on board the International Space Station.
Tony Riches - Based in west Wales in the UK, I am a published Author and full time writer Follow me on twitter @tonyriches and visit my blogs: The ...
