Robots transform work in space
01 September 2010
It’s good to be given a hand by someone. But what about several hands, super strength, infrared eyes and wheels that transform into legs? These are some of the aids that ESA’s new space robots will offer future astronauts.
Robots are ideal companions: they can survive in harsh environments, carry out dangerous work and never get tired – even during the longest, most boring, tasks. They already play a vital role in space. The Canadarm robot arms have helped to build the International Space Station. Canada’s two-armed Dextre can carry out tasks all around the Station.
The next generation Eurobot is already being developed by ESA. It will be equipped with four wheels, two arms, several interchangeable hands with tools, an advanced navigation system, cameras and sensors. The rover will be able to unpack and set up equipment, and scout its surroundings in preparation for the arrival of astronauts.
Eurobot will work independently or operate by simple voice commands. It may also be tele-operated from thousands of kilometres away. The controller will wear stereo vision goggles, along with a special ‘skeleton’ arm and glove fitted with touch sensors. Precise movements of the robot’s arms and hands will be possible. Just the slightest finger movement by an astronaut would enable a Eurobot on a distant world to pick up a grain of rice.
Engineers are also studying more intelligent robots that resemble characters from science fiction movies. These include ‘transformer rovers’ which can open their wheels to form legs, so that they drive like a car on smooth surfaces and then walk over rocky terrain.
