Robonaut (Robonaut 2), humanoid robot, Dextrous Robotics Laboratory, NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, Texas, USA

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Home page - nasa.gov/robonaut

youtube.com/NASARobonaut

facebook.com/NASArobonaut

twitter.com/AstroRobonaut

Robonaut on Wikipedia

 

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NASA's Robonaut 2- Live Demonstration

Published on Jul 30, 2012

Through the Good Samaritan Institute's Virtual Mentor program, the Boys and Girls Club in Santa Rosa Beach, FL participated in a live demonstration of NASA's Robonaut 2.

Space Station Live: Robonaut, the Humanoid Robot

Published on Sep 9, 2013

Public Affairs Officer Lori Meggs talks with Julia Badger, robotics engineer at the Johnson Space Center, about the ongoing demonstrations with Robonaut, the humanoid robot aboard the International Space Station. Robonaut was designed to perform simple, repetitive or even dangerous crew tasks.

 

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Article "NASA shows off Robonaut's gigantic new legs ahead of 2014 upgrade"

by Jon Fingas
November 10, 2013

 

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Robonaut Legs In Motion

Published on Jan 9, 2014

NASA engineers are developing climbing legs for the International Space Station's robotic crew member Robonaut 2 (R2), marking another milestone in space humanoid robotics.

The legless R2, currently attached to a support post, is undergoing experimental trials with astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory. Since its arrival at the station in February 2011, R2 has performed a series of tasks to demonstrate its functionality in microgravity.

These new legs, funded by NASA's Human Exploration and Operations and Space Technology mission directorates, will provide R2 the mobility it needs to help with regular and repetitive tasks inside and outside the space station. The goal is to free up the crew for more critical work, including scientific research.

 

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Robonaut 'Waltz': Space Station Droid's Legs Get Movin'

Published on Jan 13, 2014

New limbs of the robotic ISS crew member, Robonaut 2 (R2), are demonstrated to the 'Waltz of the Blue Danube' music. Legs will increase the mobility of the robot for work in and out of the Space Station.

 

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Robonaut Supports Telemedicine Advances

Published on Jan 15, 2014

NASA is always investigating new uses for one of the world's most advanced humanoid robots, Robonaut 2 (R2.) Working with Dr. Zsolt Garami from Houston Methodist Research Institute, R2 was put through the paces to prove its use as a device enabling telemedicine, or the use of electronic communications to conduct medical procedures. After some quick training, an R2 teleoperator was able to guide the robot and perform an ultrasound scan on a medical mannequin. Humans at the controls are able to perform the task correctly and efficiently by using R2's dexterity to apply the appropriate level of force and can track their progress using R2's vision system. The teleoperated R2 also experimented using a syringe as part of a procedure further demonstrating the robot's capabilities for telemedicine. This demonstration of robotic capabilities could one day result in the ability for physicians to conduct complex medical procedures on humans in remote locations, whether on the Earth's surface or even in low Earth orbit.

 

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NASA introduces its new Robot

Uploaded on May 16, 2011

NASA and General Motors introduce their new astronaut robot at National Air and Space Museum in Washington Smithsonian Institute.

 

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Robonaut 2 Demonstration at Kennedy Space Center

Uploaded on Feb 18, 2012

Deputy Project Manager Nicholas Radford from the NASA Johnson Space Center demonstrates Robonaut 2 at the Kennedy Space Center in October 2010. The demonstration took place ahead of the first aborted launch of STS 133 which eventually delivered an identical humanoid robot to the International space station. Robonaut 2 was developed by engineers from General Motors and NASA beginning in 2007.

 

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"Movie Trailer" for Robonaut2's launch on STS-133
from spacevideo
May 3, 2011

A Robonaut (R2B) successfully launched up to the International Space Station on February 24th. R2 is the first humanoid robot in space. R2, now unpacked, will be initially 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.

 

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Robonaut 2 - NASA's Humanoid Robot
from Carol Meier
May 15, 2013

Researchers at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC), in collaboration with General Motors and Oceaneering, have designed a state-of-the-art, highly dexterous, humanoid robot: Robonaut 1 (R2). R2 was launched to the international Space Station on STS-133.
Narrated by Carol Meier who provides professional voice over narration for film, television, and documentaries.carolmeiervoiceover.com

 

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Space Station Live: Robonaut Mobility Upgrades

Published on Aug 26, 2014

Space Station Live commentator Dan Huot interviews Dr. Ron Diftler, the principal investigator for Robonaut 2. This interview aired during Space Station Live on August 26, 2014.

 

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Robonaut Performs Hose Jacket Inspection

Published on Aug 27, 2014

Robonaut 2 (R2) showcases significant advances in robotic manipulation of materials and common tools used aboard the International Space Station. Recent experiments highlighted how a teleoperator can use R2 to manipulate a tether hook, an important safety precaution on spacewalks. Another task displayed Robonaut’s ability to pull back a protective jacket over a hose and search for damage, as well as inspect a quick-disconnect fitting for debris. The work on the ground by NASA engineers and by astronauts aboard the International Space Station continues to build the skill set for an Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Robonaut.

 

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Robonaut Performs Quick Disconnect Hose Inspection

Published on Aug 27, 2014

 

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Robonaut Performs Taskboard Tethering

Published on Aug 27, 2014

 

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PlayStation VR and NASA Tech Demo to Train Space Robot Operators

Published on Dec 14, 2015

While NASA has a long history of sending probes and rovers into space, advancements in robotics has made deployment of human-like robots an increasingly attractive prospect. But it turns out that controlling such humanoid robots remotely is challenging. NASA and Sony have been collaborating to explore how VR might be used to train operators to control robots in space.

Article "NASA Looks to PlayStation VR to Solve Key Challenge of Space Robot Operation"

by Ben Lang
December 14, 2015

 

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Robonaut 2 product overview

Published on Oct 27, 2015

Robonaut is a humanoid robotic development project conducted at NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas, in collaboration with General Motors and Oceaneering

Robonaut differs from other current space-faring robots in that, while most current space robotic systems (such as robotic arms, cranes and exploration rovers) are designed to move large objects, Robonaut's tasks require more dexterity.

The core idea behind the Robonaut series is to have a humanoid machine work alongside astronauts. Its form factor and dexterity are designed such that Robonaut can use space tools and work in similar environments suited to astronauts.

There are currently four Robonauts, with others currently in development. This allows us to study various types of mobility, control methods, and task applications.

The value of a humanoid over other designs is the ability to use the same workspace and tools - not only does this improve efficiency in the types of tools, but also removes the need for specialized robotic connectors. Robonauts are essential to NASA's future as we go beyond low earth orbit and continue to explore the vast wonder that is space.

Robonaut 2 or R2, launched to the International Space Station on space shuttle Discovery as part of the STS-133 mission, it is the first dexterous humanoid robot in space, and the first US-built robot at the space station. But that was just one small step for a robot and one giant leap for robot-kind.

Initially R2 will be deployed on a fixed pedestal inside the ISS. Next steps include a leg for climbing through the corridors of the Space Station, upgrades for R2 to go outside into the vacuum of space, and then future lower bodies like legs and wheels to propel the R2 across Lunar and Martian terrain. A four wheeled rover called Centaur 2 is being evaluated at the 2010 Desert Field Test in Arizona as an example of these future lower bodies for R2.

In the current iteration of Robonaut, Robonaut 2 or R2, NASA and General Motors are working together with assistance from Oceaneering Space Systems engineers to accelerate development of the next generation of robots and related technologies for use inR2 20 pound weight, Robonaut the automotive and aerospace industries.

Robonaut 2 (R2) is a state of the art highly dexterous anthropomorphic robot. Like its predecessor Robonaut 1 (R1), R2 is capable of handling a wide range of EVA tools and interfaces, but R2 is a significant advancement over its predecessor.

R2 is capable of speeds more than four times faster than R1, is more compact, is more dexterous, and includes a deeper and wider range of sensing.

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 currently 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. Because R2 is approaching human dexterity, tasks such as changing out an air filter can be performed without modifications to the existing design.

Thanks Guys, I hope you enjoyed the overview of the Robonaut 2, from Dextrous Robotics Laboratory.

 

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Referee Robonaut: football signals

Published on Jan 31, 2017

Can you guess the football signals Robonaut is doing? He's designed to perform complex tasks and use the same tools astronauts use.

Robonaut is a dexterous humanoid robot built and designed at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Our challenge is to build machines that can help humans work and explore in space. 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.

Researchers at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC), in collaboration with General Motors and Oceaneering, have designed a state-of-the-art, highly dexterous, humanoid robot: Robonaut 2 (R2). R2 is made up of multiple component technologies and systems -- vision systems, image recognition systems, sensor integrations, tendon hands, control algorithms, and much more. R2's nearly 50 patented and patent-pending technologies have the potential to be game-changers in multiple industries, including logistics and distribution, medical and industrial robotics, and beyond.

 

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Article "Robonaut to return to ISS"

by Jeff Foust
August 12, 2019