Robots and space may go hand in hand in science fiction, but things can be far more complicated in real life - especially if you want the robot to be useful in zero gravity. NASA is making headway, however, with its half-human Robonaut.
The Robonaut is almost exactly what it sounds like: a robot astronaut. While it won't be performing space walks anytime soon (at least not yet), this robot is one of NASA's attempts at creating a humanoid robot that can aid humans in their cosmic workload.
"Robonaut serves as a spring board to help evolve new robotic capabilities in space. Robonaut demonstrates that a dexterous robot can launch and operate in a space vehicle, manipulate mechanisms in a microgravity environment, operate for an extended duration within the space environment, assist with tasks, and eventually interact with the crewmembers," NASA says in its brief summary of the Robonaut.
The Robonaut roughly resembles the upper half of the human body, from the torso up. The Robonaut is equipped with human-like features in order to make it more accommodating to its co-workers (human astronauts) and so that the robot has the capabilities needed to perform tasks previously relegated to only humans. The current Robonaut model, Robonaut 2 or R2, was developed in conjunction with General Motors and Oceaneering Space Systems and has run test rounds on the International Space Station.
"The first humanoid robot in space was sent to the space station with the intention of eventually taking over tasks too dangerous or mundane for astronauts," reads a NASA statement.
The Robonaut can also be fitted onto a small rover, making it appear like a space centaur, so that it can traverse extraterrestrial terrain in the future. NASA is also working on allowing the Robonaut to work in the vacuum of space, so that it can perform spacewalks and perform dangerous repairs in place of human astronauts.
The Robonaut is just another great example of how robotics is being advanced to aid humans. The robot has been built to mimic human abilities, and perform human tasks. Such technology and dexterity may one day find itself into everyday homes in the form of a 'robotic maid' that can put the dishes away and change a light bulb.
Read more about the Robonaut through NASA.
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