MULTI-TASKING HUMANOID ROBOT READY FOR LIFE ABOARD CHINESE SPACE STATION
▶ Taikobot prototype shows it can do simple jobs by itself and help astronauts with more complex assignments
Astronauts on the Chinese space station could soon have a new colleague on board – a free-flying humanoid robot that will help them with their daily tasks.
A prototype of Taikobot, 1.71 metres tall and weighing 25kg, was assembled by Chinese researchers inside a mock-up of the Tiangong space station, China’s new base that was completed in December.
The experiment showed that the robot can help move cargo and maintain the station.
Zhang Qi, a professor at the National University of Defence Technology, helped lead the development of Taikobot.
“Taikobot adopts a compact and lightweight design to work in microgravity, which also reduces launch costs and improves safety during human–robot collaboration,” Mr Qi said in a research paper published last year.
“Humanoid robots of such types are more like generalpurpose service robots.
“They can even accomplish a variety of tasks on planet surfaces where they must overcome gravity.”
Images of the assembled Taikobot went viral on Chinese social media platforms earlier this week.
The prototype is equipped with a dual-arm system that allows it to perform multiple tasks at the same time.
It was able to use a hammer and electric screwdriver with one hand and carry a large package with the other.
Accompanying astronauts and assisting with work are Taikobot’s major duties, “where it follows a crew member and provides immediate services such as photographing, tool delivery and co-operative operations”, the research paper said.
“When crew members are absent, Taikobot is expected to work alone and become a caretaker for the spacecraft.”
Taikobot is currently being tested by researchers before it is sent to Tiangong.
This is not the first humanoid robot that will be launched into space.
Nasa’s Robonaut 2 was sent to the International Space Station in 2011. It was tested by astronauts for the first three years it was there and was able to turn knobs and press buttons.
It was sent back to Earth in 2018 to be repaired after it malfunctioned.
Even though it was never fully operational, it helped show that humanoid robots can help create a more efficient working environment on a space station.
Russia’s space agency Roscosmos launched the Skybot F-850 humanoid to the ISS in 2019. It was tested by cosmonauts and sent back to Earth a few days later.
Nasa’s Astrobee, Japan’s IntBall, Canada’s robotic arm Canadarm2 and the robotic arm on the Tiangong space station are some of the most successful robotic operations in space.
The Int-Ball is a free-flying robotic camera that can move around the ISS to take photos.
Robotic arms on space stations help astronauts with transport and maintenance tasks. Robots can do easy tasks that allow human astronauts to focus on more complex assignments.
China’s plans to build a research station on the Moon, for example, involve the use of many robots.
Designs include a “hopping robot” and smart mini-rovers that would move around the lunar surface.
Nasa is also looking to send more robots to space to work next to humans.
“Our challenge is to build machines that can help humans work and explore in space,” the space agency said.
“Working side by side with humans, or going where the risks are too great for people, Robonauts will expand our ability for construction and discovery.
“Central to that effort is a capability we call dexterous manipulation, embodied by an ability to use one’s hand to do work, and our challenge has been to build machines with dexterity that exceeds that of a suited astronaut.”