Humanoid robots in deep space soon

New York: The US space agency NASA is considering making new humanoid robots that could offer astronauts a helping hand in risky and extremely hazardous future space expeditions. The agency is developing a six-feet tall, 131.5 kg heavy humanoid robot called R5, previously known as Valkyrie, which will work as a ready-to-assist machine in every dangerous task of the utmost importance during long-lasting journeys beyond the Earth, Astrowatch.net reported.

"NASA is counting on robots to setup and care for deep space exploration facilities and equipment pre-deployed ahead of astronauts. Robots are also excellent precursors for conducting science missions ahead of human exploration," Sasha Congiu Ellis of NASA's Langley Research Centre in Hampton, Virginia, said.

Interestingly, the robot was initially designed to complete disaster relief manoeuvres. In November 2015, NASA awarded two R5 robots to university groups competing in the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Robotics Challenge (DRC).

While one robot is tested by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge under its Robust Autonomy for Extreme Space Environments programme, the other is available for Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts for its Accessible Testing on Humanoid-Robot-R5 and Evaluation of NASA Administered (ATHENA) Space Robotics Challenge.

According to NASA, the teams have two years to perform research and software development to improve the robot's autonomy.