android explorer - space - technology

Say Hello to Robonaut2, NASA’s Android Space Explorer of the Future

Published on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 3:16 am

With the news that the White House has canceled the Constellation Program, NASA seems to be moving out of the human space flight business. However, the unveiling of a next-generation robot astronaut shows the android space program to be alive and well.

Designed through a partnership with General Motors, the Robonaut2 is the cutting edge of android technology. Equipped with a wide array of sensors and dexterous five fingered hands, NASA plans for the Robotnaut2 to work along side humans in space operations, or by itself in missions too dangerous for people.

The Robonaut2 began life as, surprise surprise, a DARPA project almost ten years ago. The original Robonaut debuted in 2004, and sported a very Bobba Fett-like head. For the new model, NASA appears to have turned to the Power Rangers for design inspiration, with future models presumably looking more and more like Ian Holm or Lance Hendrickson.

No word yet on when NASA plans on deploying the Robonaut on an actual mission, or if its first job will be programing binary load lifters and moisture vaporators.

To see the Robonaut2 in action, check out this video:

[NASA]

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This entry was posted on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 3:16 am and is filed under Space, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.