NASA plans to use humanoid robots in space to replace humans in dangerous tasks

The humanoid robot "Valkyrie" recently developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has attracted widespread attention. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 300 pounds, the robot is quite impressive.

The robot named "Valkyrie" is named after the female figure in Norse mythology. The robot is currently being tested at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, USA. According to NASA, the humanoid robot was originally designed to respond to "degraded or compromised human engineering environments" such as natural disasters.

In the future, this kind of robot may be used for space missions. Humanoid robots are very similar to humans, usually with a torso, head, two arms, and two legs. Engineers believe that with the right software, humanoid robots will eventually be able to use a variety of tools and equipment as skillfully as humans.

According to Shaun Azimi, head of NASA’s Dexterous Robotics Team, humanoid robots in space may take on some dangerous tasks in the future, such as cleaning solar cells. Board or check faulty equipment outside the spacecraft to reduce the burden on astronauts so that they can focus more on important tasks such as exploration and discovery.

Azmi said that their goal is not to replace humans, but to hope that robots can replace humans in boring, dirty and dangerous jobs, so that humans can focus on higher-level activities.

NASA is collaborating with robotics companies such as Apptronik in Austin, Texas, to study how to develop humanoid robots for ground work and provide guidance for future humanoid robots in space.

Apptronik is developing a humanoid robot called "Apollo", which is designed to be used in warehouse and factory working environments. The robot can perform package handling, pallet stacking and other supply chain-related tasks. It is reported that the company plans to start providing this humanoid robot technology to enterprises in early 2025.

Apptronik's chief technology officer Nick Paine pointed out that compared with humans, the "Helios" robot has a clear advantage in endurance.

According to Paine, their goal is to have the system work 22 hours a day. This system comes with a replaceable battery, so when the battery runs out, it only takes a short time to replace it and continue working.

According to Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas, the company’s prospects are very bright due to the development of new software and improved robot capabilities.

"Our strategy is to start with warehouses and production floors, then move into retail...and then into more so-called unstructured spaces," Cardenas said.

Azmi predicts that in the next few years, what people call "unstructured space" may expand into space. This means humans may start building unstructured spaces in space for various purposes. This development will bring new challenges and opportunities to scientists and engineers, while also promoting a deeper understanding of human space exploration. Azmi’s point of view shows that with the continuous development of technology, human activities in space will become more diverse and flexible in the future.

Azmi pointed out that the Helios robot paid great attention to modularity in its design to adapt to various application scenarios. This is also where NASA is most concerned. They hope to gain a deeper understanding of the key gaps in the Helios robot and determine where future investments are needed to apply ground systems to space and obtain certification for space operations.

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