Robonaut
A robonaut is a
. Robonaut differs from other current space-faring robots in that, while most current space robotic systems (such as robotic arms, cranes and exploration rovers) are designed to move large objects, Robonaut's tasks require more dexterity.The core idea behind the Robonaut series is to have a humanoid machine work alongside
NASA states, "Robonauts are essential to NASA's future as we go beyond low Earth orbit",[2] and R2 will provide performance data about how a robot may work side-by-side with astronauts.[3]
The latest Robonaut version, R2, was delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) by STS-133 in February 2011.[2] The first US-built robot on the ISS, R2 is a robotic torso designed to assist with crew EVAs and can hold tools used by the crew.[3] However, Robonaut 2 does not have adequate protection needed to exist outside the space station and enhancements and modifications would be required to allow it to move around the station's interior.[3]
As of 2018[update] NASA planned to return R2 for repairs and then relaunch.[needs update]
Robonaut 1
Robonaut 1 (R1) was the first model. The two Robonaut versions (R1A and R1B) had many partners including
Robonaut has participated in NASA's Desert Research and Technology Studies field trials in the Arizona desert.[10]In 2006, the automotive company General Motors expressed interest in the project and proposed to team up with NASA. In 2007 a Space Act Agreement was signed that allowed GM and NASA to work together on the next generation of Robonaut.[11]
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Robonaut with zero-g leg
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Robonaut attached to RMP
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Robonaut attached to Centaur 1
Robonaut 2
In February 2010, Robonaut 2 (R2) was revealed to the public. R2 is capable of speeds more than four times faster than R1, is more compact, more dexterous, and includes a deeper and wider range of sensing.[12] It can move its arms up to 2 m/s, has a 40 lb payload capacity, and its hands have a grasping force of roughly 5 lbs. per finger. There are over 350 sensors and 38 PowerPC processors in the robot.[13]
Station crew members will be able to operate R2, as will controllers on the ground; both will do so using
R2 was designed as a prototype to be used on Earth, but mission managers were impressed by R2 and chose to send it to the ISS.[11] Various upgrades were made to qualify it for use inside the station. The outer skin materials were exchanged to meet the station's flammability requirements, shielding was added to reduce electromagnetic interference, processors were upgraded to increase the robot's radiation tolerance, the original fans were replaced with quieter ones to accommodate the station's noise requirements, and the power system was rewired to run on the station's direct current system rather than the alternating current used on the ground.[11]
In the design of the R2 robot, a 3D time of flight imager will be used in conjunction with a stereo camera pair to provide depth information and visible stereo images to the system. This allows the R2 to "see", which is one of the basic preconditions to fulfill its tasks. To integrate the various sensor data types in a single development environment, the image processing software Halcon 9.0 from MVTec Software (Munich, Germany [1]) is used.[16]
2011 Testing at the ISS
Robonaut 2 was launched on
Further upgrades could be added to allow R2 to work outside in the vacuum of space, where R2 could help spacewalkers perform repairs, make additions to the station or conduct scientific experiments. There were initially no plans to return the launched R2 to earth.[11]
2018 Repair and possible relaunch
NASA announced on 1 April 2018 that R2 would return to Earth in May 2018 with CRS-14 Dragon for repair and eventual relaunch in about a year's time.[20] As of 2018[update] NASA planned to return R2 for repairs and then relaunch.[needs update]
NASA's experience with R2 on the station will help them understand its capabilities for possible deep space missions.
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R2 aboard ISS withDan Burbank
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R2 attached to Centaur 2
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R2 with proposed terrestrial legs
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R2 with its 'climbing legs'
Project M (R2 on the moon)
In late 2009, a proposed mission called
See also
- List of NASA robots
- CIMON – Floating robot deployed on the ISS by Airbus
- Int-Ball – Floating camera robot deployed on the ISS by JAXA
- Justin (robot), a similar robot on Earth by DLR
- Kirobo, first fully humanoid robot astronaut
- FEDOR (robot)– Russian humanoid robot astronaut
References
- ^ J. L. Rochlis; John-Paul Clarke; S. M. Goza. (2001). "SPACE STATION TELEROBOTICS: DESIGNING A HUMAN-ROBOT INTERFACE AIAA 2001-5110" (PDF).
- ^ a b "Robonaut home page". Nasa. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- ^ a b c "Robonaut Robonaut ISS Mission". NASA. Archived from the original on 31 May 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- ^ Wethington, Nicholos (December 3, 2007). "Future Mars Explorers Might Only See the Planet from Orbit". Universe Today. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
- ^ Ambrose, Robert. "Robonaut" (PDF). Johnson Space Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-21.
- ^ "Mobile Manipulation using NASA's Robonaut" (PDF). International Conference on Robotics & Automation. April 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-24. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ Malik, Tariq (October 20, 2004). "Segway platform puts robots in motion". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
Segway's self-balancing robot platform takes up about 2 square feet and comes equipped with software and interface electronics necessary to receive, process and execute commands from an onboard robot payload.
- ^ "Robonaut". NASA. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ "Robonaut: Project M Whitepaper". NASA. Archived from the original on 2010-05-27.
- ^ Berger, Brian (November 27, 2006). "NASA auditions robots for lunar exploration". NBC News. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- ^ a b c d e f "Robonaut 2: Fact Sheet" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ^ "Robonaut 2". NASA. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ^ Joson, Imelda B.; Aguirre, Edwin L. (February 23, 2011). "NASA's First Robot Astronaut". Sky & Telescope.
- .
- ISSN 0143-991X.
- ^ Kreutzer, Lutz (1 May 2012). "Vision Software Enables NASA Robonaut to See". Photonics Spectra.
- ^ "Welcome Aboard Robonaut 2". NASA. 2011-09-19. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
- ^ "First Movement of Robonaut 2 on ISS". NASA. 2011-11-02. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
- ^ "Twitter- AstroRobonaut". NASA. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ G., Chris (April 1, 2018). "Tweet from Managing Editor for NASA Spaceflight".
#Robonaut stopped powering up. Crew troubleshooted. Electrical fault present. Coming back on CRS-14 next month for repair. Should be relaunched in about a year to go back to ISS. #SpaceX #Falcon9 #Dragon #CRS14
- ^ Atkinson, Nancy (5 February 2010). "Will NASA Send Robots to the Moon with "Project M?"". Universe Today.
- New York Times. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
A humanoid dextrous robot — at least the top half — already exists: Robonaut 2, developed by NASA and General Motors, is packed on the shuttle Discovery, scheduled for liftoff on Wednesday.
Further reading
- R.O. Ambrose, H. Aldridge, R.S. Askew, R. Burridge, W. Bluethman, M.A. Diftler, C. Lovchik, D. Magruder, F. Rehnmark, ROBONAUT: NASA's Space Humanoid Archived 2012-10-02 at the .
- M. A. Diftler, C. J. Culbert, and R.O. Ambrose, "Evolution of the NASA/DARPA Robonaut Control System," in IEEE International Conf. Robotics Automation, pp. 2543–2548, 2003.
- G. Landis, "Teleoperation from Mars Orbit: A Proposal for Human Exploration," Acta Astronautica, Vol. 61, No. 1, 59-65 (Jan. 2008); also paper IAC-04-IAA.3.7.2.05, 55th International Astronautical Federation Congress (2004). (A popular version is available from NASA.)
- J. L. Rochlis, John-Paul Clarke, S. M. Goza. SPACE STATION TELEROBOTICS: DESIGNING A HUMAN-ROBOT INTERFACE AIAA 2001-5110
External links
- Robonaut home page
- Robonaut2 NASA press release and fact sheet
- Robonaut2 GM press release
- Old Robonaut Website
- Robonaut 2 ready for International Space Station - April 14th, 2010 Archived 2013-11-02 at the Wayback Machine
- In-depth article on Robonaut at NASASpaceFlight.com
- Robonaut: A Robotic Astronaut Assistant
- Robonaut 2 Overview slideshow