New legs give Robonaut 2 freedom to roam space station

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.

The 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 routine repetitive tasks inside and outside the space station. This will give crew members more time to perform critical work, including scientific research.

’NASA has explored with robots for more than a decade, from the stalwart rovers on Mars to R2 on the station,’ said Michael Gazarik, NASA’s associate administrator for space technology in Washington. ’Our investment in robotic technology development is helping us to bolster productivity by applying robotics technology and devices to fortify and enhance individual human capabilities, performance and safety in space.’

Once the legs are attached to the R2 torso, the robot will have a fully extended leg span of nine feet (3m), giving it flexibility for movement around the space station.

Each leg has seven joints and an end effector on the feet, which allows the robot to take advantage of handrails and sockets inside and outside the station. A vision system for the end effectors will be used to verify and eventually automate each limb’s approach and grasp.

NASA engineers have built the legs and R2 will be receiving them early next year. The new legs are designed for work inside and outside the station, but upgrades to R2’s upper body will be necessary before it can begin work outside the space station.

Technologies developed for Robonaut have led to new robotic devices for future spaceflight that also have direct applications here on Earth. According to a statement, NASA is developing a robotic exoskeleton that could help astronauts stay healthier in space and also aid people with physical disabilities.

R5, next in NASA’s Robonaut series of robots, will debut later this month when it competes in the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s (DARPA) Robotics Challenge.

During the challenge, robots will demonstrate capabilities to execute complex tasks in dangerous, degraded, human-engineered environments.

Competing teams are expected to focus on robots that can use standard tools and equipment commonly available in human environments, ranging from hand tools to vehicles, with an emphasis on adaptability to tools with diverse specifications.