The Astronaut of the Future? NASA Gives MIT Bipedal Humanoid Robot (W/ Video)

The Challenge

MIT is one of two university research groups that will be receiving a humanoid robot from NASA as part of its upcoming Space Robotics Challenge. The research group, led by principal investigator Russ Tedrake of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, will receive up to $250,000 every year for two years from NASA.

Known as “Valkyrie” or “R5,” the robot stands 6 feet tall and weighs 290 pounds. It will be used to test and develop technology for space missions. NASA’s challenge is an effort to create more dexterous autonomous robots to undertake extreme space missions. See the robot in action in the video below.

 

Robot Space Exploration

NASA’s interest in humanoid robots points towards using these autonomous machines to replace humans in deep space explorations. Robot like Valkyrie could be sent on preparatory or assistive space missions.

In a recent press release, Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator for the Space technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington, expressed the organization’s goals in developing space robots, saying "Advances in robotics, including human-robotic collaboration, are critical to developing the capabilities required for our journey to Mars. We are excited to engage these university research groups to help NASA with this next big step in robotics technology development."