The International Space Station's humanoid robot helper, Robonaut 2, reaches out to touch a gloved astronaut hand in a photo that pays tribute to Michelangelo's Sistine ceiling painting.
Robonaut 2, a dexterous, humanoid astronaut helper, will fly to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Discovery on the STS-133 mission. Although it will initially only participate in operational tests, upgrades could eventually allow the robot to realize its true purpose — helping spacewalking astronauts with tasks outside the space station.
NASA's Robonaut 2 strikes a post atop its new wheeled base, Centaur 2, at the Johnson Space Center Planetary Analog Test Site in Houston. The Centaur base builds off of lessons learned through the Space Exploration Vehicle, a rover for astronauts, and could allow the dexterous humanoid robot to help with the future exploration of distant planetary surfaces.
The Robonaut 2, or R2, droid flexes its metal muscles in triumph while riding atop its new wheeled base, Centaur 2, at the Johnson Space Center Planetary Analog Test Site in Houston.
A crane is used to lift the 330-pound Robonaut 2 out of its shipping container at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The robot will be placed inside a different packing arrangement designed for the unique demands of launch and spaceflight.
Robonaut 2 flexes its 'muscles' for reporters during a final demonstration before being packed away for its upcoming launch to the International Space Station in November 2011.
Robonaut B's upper body can attach to a Segway-built robotic mobility platform (RMP) in order to drive on Earth.
Robonaut 2 — or R2 for short — is now tweeting at www.twitter.com/AstroRobonaut. With the help of its team, the robot sent its first tweet on July 26. R2 will be traveling to the International Space Station aboard Discovery as part of the STS-133 mission.
The first view recorded by the camera eyes of Robonaut 2, a robot helper on the International Space Station, during the first tests of the droid on Aug. 22, 2011 during the Expedition 28 mission.
NASA and General Motors have come together to develop the next generation dexterous humanoid robot. The robots – called Robonaut2 – were designed to use the same tools as humans, which allows them to work safely side-by-side humans on Earth and in space.
Robonaut2 surpasses previous dexterous humanoid robots in strength, yet it is safe enough to work side-by-side with humans. It is able to lift, not just hold, this 20-pound weight (about four times heavier than what other dexterous robots can handle) both near and away from its body.
NASA's Robonaut is making an appearance among the many exhibits at the Wirefly X Prize Cup '07 and Holloman Air and Space Expo.
A fusion between Robonaut and a four or six-wheeled rover could one day explore and work the surface of Mars or the moon.
Robonaut B uses a "space leg" to secure itself to a mockup of the International Space Station. The leg apparatus allows Robonaut the freedom to use station handrails to reach a work site, then anchor itself during a spacewalk.
Former astronaut Bruce McCandless operates Robonaut B, mounted on its Segway scooter robotic mobile platform.
NASA's Robonaut 2, or R2, humanoid robot poses like a champion with the American flag while sitting atop a hill and riding its new wheeled base, Centaur 2, at the Johnson Space Center Planetary Analog Test Site in Houston.
Astronaut Paolo Nespoli writes, "Robonaut in its crate gets moved from PMM to the Lab. We’ll unpack it later, unless it takes over the ISS earlier!"
NASA astronaut Cady Coleman (right) and Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli proudly display the newest resident of the International Space Station, the humanoid Robonaut 2 robot, to cameras on March 15, 2011.
Space station astronaut Mike Fossum of NASA talks to Mission Control after working on the Robonaut 2 helper droid on the International Space Station on Aug. 22, 2011, during the robot's first tests.
The first view recorded by the camera eyes of Robonaut 2, a robot helper on the International Space Station, during the first tests of the droid on Aug. 22, 2011 during the Expedition 28 mission.
Robonaut posted this photo on Facebook while working on the International Space Station August 23, 2012. The robot, a joint project of NASA and General Motors, wrote: “Switch cover has been opened by my dexterous fingers.”
