The US space agency recently partnered with a small robotics company in Texas as part of the agency's plan to invest in small businesses to develop complex humanoid robots that could help astronauts and even be sent to planets with hostile environments.
The connection in question was created between NASA and Apptronik, which is developing a humanoid robot called Apollo for the terrestrial logistics market. Apollo is a robot about six feet tall weighing 73 kilograms, capable of running and moving for four hours with a battery and the ability to carry a weight of up to 25 kilograms.
So far, the company has focused primarily on the development of Apollo for relief operations at land logistics sites, domestic assistance as well as providing medical assistance. As part of the research and development process, the developers emphasized the flexibility and ability of the robot to perform a series of different functions autonomously, so that it operates without close human assistance.
These features have aroused NASA's curiosity and attention, as robots of this type could help the agency's space crew and even embark on independent research missions on planets with a hostile environment for humans. As part of the collaboration, NASA will give the company access to all the knowledge and experience it has from many years of research and development of various types of robots, including small helicopters, independent space vehicles, etc.
The robot Apollo. ABLE TO PERFORM TASKS THAT HUMANS CANNOT, PHOTO: APPTRONIK
"This is an opportunity for us to give our broad knowledge of mobile robots to various companies, thereby encouraging progress in this significant field, which is important not only for space exploration but also here on Earth," said Sean Azimi, head of the robotics team at NASA's Johnson Center.
Also in space."
The battery of the robot Apollo. Will be able to function for about four hours on a single charge, Photo: APPTRONIK
NASA already operates robots on Mars such as Curiosity and Perseverance, but these are mostly research tools on wheels. The Apollo robot will be able to perform much more complex tasks, which until now have either been carried out by humans or were too complicated and difficult to perform humanly. Such robots will be able to prepare the terrain, maintain mining and production facilities, and work with local material in a way that significantly reduces the costs of the agency's space missions.
In fact, the agency plans for such robots to establish a manned space station on the moon and to precede the landing of human astronauts on Mars.
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