Robots that can help humans live and work in space

A robot can be any mechanical intelligent machine that can do certain human tasks effortlessly. Most of the time, a robot works on its own. But sometimes astronauts might have to control a robot with a remote controller. Anyway, robots are huge support for astronomers who lead space explorations on board the International Space Station (ISS) or from other sites. Robots help astronomers mainly in two ways. One, they can enhance their capability with the robots. In this case, robots carry astronomers around the space and assist them in dangerous tasks. In another case, robots may work quite automatically. Here, robots simply replace astronomers to perform the difficult tasks. In fact, both the types of robots are used in space explorations by astronomers.

Robonaut 2

What is great with the robots in space or anywhere else, is that they do not need food or rest between the tasks like humans. Robots can work round-the-clock tirelessly. This is why space researchers often employ robots in their explorations. In space, robots can be anything from an unmanned spacecraft to a humanoid that perform diverse jobs. In this article, we talk about a number of space robots that assist explorers continue their missions in space.

1. Robotic Arm

Robotic Arm

A team of top space researchers has designed this robotic arm that can gather geologic samples on the Moon, the Mars and asteroids. The robotic arm can garner samples without letting the astronomers to go for the hazardous spacewalk. The Robotic Arm project was carried out by the space researchers at the Mars Institute and the MDA Information Systems, a space robotics company. The Robotic Arm was shaped up as part of the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) by the researchers.

2. Three-armed robot

Three-armed robot

Eurobot is a three-armed robot to assist astronomers at the International Space Station. The robot helps astronauts in maintenance works at the station. Eurobot was developed by an industrial consortium headed by Thales Alenia Space for the European Space Agency (ESA). Different from human arms, Eurobot’s arms have seven joints. That means they are better capable to do huge tasks.

3. Robonaut 2

Robonaut 2

Robonaut 2 or shortly called R2 is a humanoid developed for astronauts at the International Space Station. The robot was designed by a team of engineers from NASA and General Motors (GM). The Robonaut 2 project was initiated in 2007 and was launched into the space station in February 2011.

Unlike most of space robots, Robonaut 2 is meant to move big objects. Robonaut’s tasks need more dexterity than the robotic arms and exploration rovers. It has been one of the prestigious projects for GM, which aims to lead in enhanced technology. Engineers of GM and NASA spent a few years at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to give the complete form to the robot.

4. Dextre

Dextre

Dextre is another space robot from NASA to the International Space Station. Meant to perform the astronauts’ dirty and adventurous tasks, the robot was launched by NASA on the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Dextre (Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator) is expected to help astronauts in their hazardous tasks. The robot expands to 10 feet height and 5 feet width once erected at the station.

5. Justin android

Jutin android

Justin is an android that astronauts can control using a remote controller from ESA's Columbus laboratory on the International Space Station. Space researchers at the German Aerospace Center have developed Justin, which mounts sensors and cameras to capture three-dimensional images. The android has human-like arms and gloves. So, an astronaut who controls the android, gets the feel of himself doing the task.