Robô-astronauta enviado para o espaço

Há 3 anos atrás, vi-o no aeroporto de Houston.

Como o Rui Barbosa disse neste post, o Robot experimental designado Robonaut 2, foi enviado para a Estação Espacial Internacional, a bordo do vaivém Discovery.
“O Robonaut 2 tem um peso de 136 kg e tem uma forma humanóide, sendo operado de forma remota desde o solo.
A sua altura é de 1,2 metros e a sua largura máxima (entre ombros) é de 0,9 metros.
O Robonaut 2 é uma experiência para demonstrar as tecnologias que no futuro poderão ser um auxiliar importante para os astronautas em órbita.”

O Paulo Almeida, neste post, colocou um cartaz com algumas especificidades do Robonaut 2.

Vejam as caracteristicas do robot, neste PDF da NASA.
“In February 2010, R2 was unveiled – a faster, more dexterous, more technologically advanced humanoid robot than had ever been seen before. Its potential was quickly recognized, and space was made on one of the few remaining shuttle missions to provide it a ride to the space station. There it will make both history, as the first humanoid robot in space, and progress as engineers get their first look at how a humanoid robot actually performs in the absence of gravity.”

Podem ver uma galeria de imagens (donde retirei as deste post), no site da NASA.
Sites da NASA, referentes ao Robonauta: aqui, aqui, e interactivo.
Conta no Twitter, deste robô-astronauta.

De resto ele tem sido um sucesso na comunicação social:

Ciência Hoje:
“A NASA vai lançar para o espaço o primeiro robô humanóide já no final deste ano. Concebido pela NASA e a General Motors para auxiliar o trabalho humano, o Robonaut2 (R2) irá habitar na Estação Espacial Internacional. Este robô pesa 150 quilogramas e foi feito à imagem do ser humano, com uma cabeça, um tronco, dois braços e respectivas mãos.
(…)
O R2 é capaz de utilizar as mesmas ferramentas que os membros da tripulação usam. No futuro, estes robôs podem ser úteis para os astronautas durante caminhadas no espaço ou para realização de tarefas difíceis ou perigosas. Para já, o R2 é um protótipo e não tem a protecção adequada necessária para funcionar fora da estação espacial.”

Inovação Tecnológica:
“Discovery levará robô astronauta para Estação Espacial.”

NASA:
“The dexterous robot not only looks like a human but also is designed to work like one. With human-like hands and arms, R2 is able to use the same tools station crew members use. In the future, the greatest benefits of humanoid robots in space may be as assistants or stand-in for astronauts during spacewalks or for tasks too difficult or dangerous for humans. For now, R2 is still a prototype and does not have adequate protection needed to exist outside the space station in the extreme temperatures of space.”

NASA:
“”Our goal is for R2 to perform routine maintenance tasks, freeing up the station crew for more important work,” explains Ron Diftler, Robonaut Project Manager at Johnson Space Center. “Here’s a robot that can see the objects it’s going after, feel the environment, and adjust to it as needed. That’s pretty human. It opens up endless possibilities!”
The team hopes to teach R2 to do all kinds of things on the space station. For example, R2 might do delicate tasks like set up science experiments for the crew, or it might just as easily run a vacuum cleaner.”

NASA:
“R2, as the robot is called, will launch inside the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module, which will be packed with supplies and equipment for the station and then installed permanently on the Unity node. Once R2 is unpacked – likely several months after it arrives – it will initially be operated inside the Destiny laboratory for operational testing, but over time both its territory and its applications could expand. There are no plans to return R2 to Earth.”

NASA:
“Advanced technology spans the entire R2 system and includes: optimized overlapping dual arm dexterous workspace, series elastic joint technology, extended finger and thumb travel, miniaturized 6-axis load cells, redundant force sensing, ultra-high speed joint controllers, extreme neck travel, and high resolution camera and IR systems. The dexterity of R2 allows it to use the same tools that astronauts use and removes the need for specialized tools just for robots.
One advantage of a humanoid design is that Robonaut can take over simple, repetitive, or especially dangerous tasks on places such as the International Space Station.”

Astrobio:
“a human-like robot will become a resident of the International Space Station (ISS). Robonaut 2 will join the ISS crew in order to test how the robot operates in weightlessness. In the future, robots like Robonaut could help humans perform science experiments in space and explore the surface of other worlds, like Mars.”

Universe Today:
“Revolutionary Robonaut 2 Readied at Rocket Ranch.”

Universe Today:
“The 136 kg (300-pound) R2 consists of a head and a torso with two arms and two hands.”

Daily Galaxy:
“He’s flying up head first; R2’s legs will follow on a later launch. (…)
R2 primary task will be to help the astronauts with extravehicular activity (EVAs). “For its first training sessions, R2 will be placed on a fixed pedestal for lessons on a task board. The board has switches, knobs, and connectors like the ones astronauts operate, and the crew will mock up chores for R2 to master.” (…)
“Much like those of us down here on Earth, space station astronauts spend their Saturday mornings cleaning. R2’s legs will give the crew their Saturday mornings back! It’s all about making efficient use of the astronauts’ time. They don’t need to waste time doing simple stuff R2 can do.”
The legs have special toes that plug into the space station walls so R2 can learn to climb without using its hands. “The hands must be free to carry cleaning supplies and tools,” explained Ambrose. “R2 will practice indoors first because if it falls off inside an astronaut can pick it back up for another try. With a misstep outside, R2 could end up dangling helplessly out in space on a tether.” (…)”

Daily Galaxy (e aqui):
“Another vivid sign that we have entered the dawn of the age of post-biological intelligence: NASA and General Motors announced on Tuesday that they planned to send a robot to the International Space Station, with the eventual goal of having it help the astronauts there.
Although there are already several robots in space — including the famous now AI-enhanced Mars Rovers, which have been zipping around the red planet for years — NASA and G.M. said this would be the first human-like robot to leave Earth.”

Daily Galaxy:
“R2 -Robonaut 2 Readies for Liftoff: Signals New Era of Robotic Space Exploration.”

Wired:
“The Robonaut 2, which was co-developed by NASA with General Motors, will serve as an assistant to the humans on board the International Space Station, using the same tools developed for astronauts.”

Space Daily:
“NASA Outlines Big Plans For Humanoid Robot.”

Space Daily:
“Star Wars Meets UPS As Robonaut Packed For Space.”

Space Daily:
“Telerobots (remotely controlled robots) can be used not only in outer space but also in terrestrial environments that are hazardous for human beings, such as minefields or areas affected by nuclear radiation. Innovations derived from virtual reality telepresence and teleaction are also being employed in technology for medicine and production environments.”

Estes são os primeiros passos, para fazer de robots-humanóides os exploradores do futuro.
Esta é a primeira fase do Projecto M, que pretende colocar robôs na Lua dentro de 3 anos.

Expresso:
“Este projeto, designado por Projeto M, surgiu de uma ideia de Stephen J. Altemus, engenheiro-chefe da Johnson Space Centre, onde está a ser desenvolvido. Altemus comprometeu-se a criar um robô humanoide que substituísse os humanos no Espaço, em 1000 dias.
Este será o primeiro robô humanoide no Espaço. Será enviado para a Estação Espacial Internacional, para auxiliar nas tarefas de limpeza da estação. A NASA acredita que humanos e robôs possam trabalhar em conjunto.”

Inovação Tecnológica:
“NASA: robô humanoide pode pousar na Lua em 1000 dias.
Engenheiros do Centro Espacial Johnson, da NASA elaboraram um projeto para colocar um robô humanoide na Lua em 1000 dias.
O Projeto M – M é o algarismo romano para 1000 e a inicial de Lua em inglês (Moon) – ainda não tem aprovação oficial e nem há qualquer sinalização de que ele venha a ser executado em um futuro próximo.
Mas os engenheiros afirmam que já possuem virtualmente toda a tecnologia disponível e que será possível executar o Projeto M no prazo proposto, contando a partir da data de sua aprovação.
A base do projeto é o Robonauta, ou R2, cuja parte superior – ele ainda não tem pernas – será levado para a Estação Espacial Internacional a bordo do ônibus espacial Discovery, cujo lançamento está previsto para esta semana – veja Discovery levará robô astronauta para Estação Espacial.
Sem a necessidade de todo o aparato de suporte de vida exigido pelos astronautas, o robô humanoide poderia viajar em uma espaçonave extremamente simples, contendo o suficiente apenas para levar o próprio robô, que viajaria em um compartimento ao lado dos tanques de combustível.
A exemplo da recente proposta de uma viagem sem retorno para Marte, também não há planos para trazer o robô astronauta de volta, o que simplifica ainda mais o projeto.
Após desembarcar, o robô será descarregado de forma automática e caminhará sobre a superfície da Lua, deixando na Lua seu rastro robótico histórico.
E a ideia toda gira em torno do próprio fato, do seu valor simbólico e da propaganda gerada pelo feito para o programa espacial – “[…] a parte intangível da NASA, que é a sua capacidade de inspirar e instigar o orgulho nacional,” afirma a proposta.”

NASA Watch:
“Sure this would be cool – and the potential uses for humanoid form factor robots has great potential. But Bolden has a point: can NASA really field a bipedal robot – on the Moon? Can they do so on Earth? With regard to the current state of the art of robot design, are there any bipedal robots – anywhere – that can operate autonomously or teleroboticaly that can traverse the terrain one would expect on the Moon (in 0.18G)? Can they do so and also perform meaningful tasks – task that could not be performed better (and more cheaply) by a robot with another form factor – perhaps a rover with arms? Can this JSC bipedal robot pick itself up after a fall?”

E há ideias para centauros – metade humanóides, metade rovers:

Até já andam na brincadeira a dizer que estes são os primeiros passos para os Cylons, de Battlestar Galactica:

😀