Texas company Apptronik, originally focused on robotic solutions for logistics, manufacturing and home healthcare, is currently adapting its robot, called Apollo, for space missions at the request of NASA.
This robotic assistant will soon be able to be sent into Earth's orbit and even to other celestial bodies, such as the Moon and Mars, with the aim of assisting astronauts in their activities outside Earth.
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Within NASA's ambitious projects, the idea of having robots functioning as “avatars” controlled remotely by human operators on Earth is taking shape.
Apollo, a robot measuring 1.70 m tall, weighing 73 kg and with a carrying capacity of 25 kg, emerges as the embodiment of this concept.
Designed to operate for around four hours on a single battery charge, the Apollo displays varying levels of dexterity, autonomous functions and a range of attachable tools. Continuous development promises to further expand its capabilities and functionalities.
(Image: disclosure)
NASA, in its recent statement, highlighted the collaboration with Apptronik, highlighting focuses on robotic mobility and software design principles aimed at safe interaction between humans and machines.
Shaun Azimi, robotics team leader at the Johnson Space Center, expressed excitement and shared that:
“With NASA’s expertise in human-safe mobile robots, it was possible to leverage innovation in the robotics field, bringing benefits for the American economy and opening doors to productive and safe human work, both on Earth and on space missions future.”
Advances in robotics could be key to the next phase of the American agency's lunar exploration.
While landers, rovers and aerial drones are already present in space missions, the agency now envisions the introduction of general-purpose humanoid robots to streamline operations in other terrains stars.
According to the website Space.com, these advanced automatons would have the versatility to tackle tedious or risky tasks on the Moon or Mars, surpassing humans in efficiency and safety.
A distinctive feature is their ability to reprogram, enabling them to take on new activities, including those not originally foreseen by their creators.
With humanoid robots taking on roles such as building shelters or collecting rock samples, astronauts and ground teams could focus more intensely on scientific research and other missions criticism.
Such an innovative strategy promises to redefine lunar operations and, potentially, the space exploration as a whole.
