The Suit Magazine

The latest incarnation in robotics is called “Robonaut 2,” or “R2” for short, and, according to nasa.gov, it will be launched into space on November 1st as part of the space shuttle Discovery STS-133 mission.  It will be the first humanoid in space and will become a permanent member of the International Space Station. R2 represents an exciting development for the space industry. It is not meant to replace human astronauts, nor is it capable of replacing human astronauts – it will be an assistant, one that certainly looks more human than its ancestors. 

Despite its name, “R2 resembles more of the Star Wars character C-3PO,” says theregister.co.uk, “the tall, shiny, golden robot of the movie series. Weighing in at 300 pounds and standing 12 feet tall (with its bottom half attached to it), it has been designed to look more like a human torso from the waist up, unlike the renowned dome-shaped stump on wheels.”

As well, according to nasa.gov, “The dexterous robot not only looks like a human but [it’s also] designed to work like one. With human-like hands and arms, R2 is able to use the same tools station crew members use.” R2 is stronger and smarter than previous humanoid robots. It can hold up to 20 lbs. of weight on Earth. Its elongated fingers give it more precision with grasping objects. This gives R2 the ability to work within tight spaces and eliminates the need for using tools that were particularly made for robots. As a worker, R2 can conduct intricate handiwork while still being controlled from a distance. 

Engineer Mohammad Abdallah, a Senior Researcher at GM who’s spent the last several years as part of a seven-member engineering team responsible for developing the R2 robot in Houston, Texas, at the Johnson Space Center, explains, “R2 has hundreds of sensors and modes of operation that enable it to function amazingly like a person. We stand next to it and work with it, and it won’t bump into anyone while it supports our workers. In general, to have this robot working with humans,” he adds, “makes the work safer and more productive.” To make it even more human-like, its exterior “skin” is made of a softer outer material from the shoulder down.

Admittedly, there are some limitations on what the robot can currently do. Among them, R2 cannot withstand the cold temperatures of space. However, it is hoped that, in the future, adjustments will be made so that it can perform the EVA (Extra-vehicular activity) tasks that are both time-consuming and dangerous for astronauts. When it does venture out into the vacuum of space, R2 will also be less likely to lose tools while orbiting than human astronauts. For now, it will be restricted to the space station’s Destiny laboratory until future innovations give it the ability to move freely around the station. 

R2’s performance in the space station will also provide valuable data for the future evolution of robotics. According to nasa.gov, “Testing the robot inside the station will provide an important intermediate environment. R2 will be tested in microgravity and subjected to the station's radiation and electromagnetic interference environments. The interior operations will provide performance data about how a robot may work side by side with astronauts. As development activities progress on the ground, station crews may be provided hardware and software to update R2 to enable it to do new tasks.”

In addition to assisting astronauts in space, R2 was designed to play a future role at General Motors’ assembly lines. It will then be our responsibility as human beings to integrate this new technology into our workplaces and into our lives. It is hoped that humanoid robots like R2 will enhance the safety of the manufacturing process without displacing people. Alan Taub, Vice President of GM's Global Research and Development section, said, “The work done by GM and NASA engineers also will help us validate manufacturing technologies that will improve the health and safety of our GM team members at our manufacturing plants throughout the world. Partnerships between organizations such as GM and NASA help ensure space exploration, road travel, and manufacturing can become even safer in the future.”

R2 is indeed the next generation in the evolution of human-like robots. “This project exemplifies the promise that a future generation of robots can have both in space and on Earth, not as replacements for humans but as companions that can carry out key supporting roles,” said John Olson, the director of NASA's Exploration Systems Integration Office. “The combined potential of humans and robots is a perfect example of the sum equaling more than the parts. It will allow us to go farther and achieve more than we can probably even imagine today.” While still very much a work-in-progress, R2 has vast potential. It is another example of the space industry’s valuable contribution to human civilization’s progress.

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