ROBONAUT
Research Area: Robotics
Expedition(s): 27-ongoing
Principal Investigator(s): ● Myron A. Diftler, PhD, NASA’s Johnson Space Center,
Houston, Texas
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Robonaut serves as a springboard to help
evolve new robotic capabilities in space
and 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 crew members.
EARTH BENEFITS
General Motors plans to use technologies
from Robonaut in future advanced vehicle
safety systems and manufacturing plant
applications. Robonaut validates manufacturing technologies that will improve the health and
safety of GM team members at manufacturing plants throughout the world.
SPACE BENEFITS
Robonaut is an endeavor
between NASA and General
Motors (GM) to improve robotic
technology and capabilities for
future space exploration
platforms.RESULTS
Robonaut 2 (R2) arrived on ISS in
February 2011 and underwent
testing in preparation to
become, initially, an Intra-
Vehicular Activity (IVA) tool and
then evolve into a system that
can perform Extra-Vehicular
Activities (EVA or spacewalk).
After the completion of a series of system level checks to ensure the robot traveled well aboard
the Space Shuttle Atlantis, ground control personnel will remotely control the robot to perform
free space tasks that will help characterize the differences between Earth and microgravity
Robonaut 2 is the next generation dexterous robot,
developed through a Space Act Agreement by NASA and
General Motors.Expedition 29 commander Mike Fossum works with Robonaut 2 during
checkout and operation in the US Laboratory Destiny.