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| Nasa has launched a competition encouraging teams to develop and display the ability of a Robonaut 5 robot (pictured) with a series of tasks in a virtual environment. Called Space Robotics Challenge, teams will create skills for aligning a communications array, repairing a broken solar array and identifying and repairing a habitat leak |
Nasa is competition challenges innovators to program a R5 with skills for aligning a communications array, repairing a broken solar array and identifying and repairing a habitat leak - all in a virtual environment.
Nasa has developed these cutting-edge capabilities in Earth-based robotic systems using hydraulics, but these technologies were not designed for the below-freezing temperatures and the harsh environment of planetary surfaces.
Robonaut 5 (R5) uses elastics technology instead of hydraulics, which is Nasa's innovated way of addressing the problems of operating in space.
Nasa began working on the Robonaut project back in 1996 and one is currently working aboard the International Space Station.
Experts also believe these space-age humanoids could one day be used on our planet in dangerous or extreme environments where humans and the Earth-based robotics cannot travel.
'Precise and dexterous robotics, able to work with a communications delay, could be used in spaceflight and ground missions to Mars and elsewhere for hazardous and complicated tasks, which will be crucial to support our astronauts,' said Monsi Roman, program manager of Nasa's Centennial Challenges.
'Nasa and our partners are confident the public will rise to this challenge, and are excited to see what innovative technologies will be produced.'
Each team's R5 will be will be challenged with resolving the aftermath of a dust storm that has damaged a Martian habitat – and this is where the three tasks will be used.
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| Nasa's challenge will see the robot helping astronauts deal with a devastating dust storm - similar to the problem faced by Mark Watney in the hit film 'The Martian' |
Today marks the beginning of registrations, with a qualifying round starting in mid-September and finishing mid-November.
Finalists will be announced in December and official practices will open from January to early June 2017 – winners will be announced at the end of June at Space Center Houston.
MEET VALKYRIE: THE HUMANOID GETTING READY FOR SPACE
Currently, Valkyrie (R5) can walk on two legs and perform basic movements, such as holding and manipulating objects.
The program is a joint effort between Nasa and the University of Edinburgh.
Nasa hopes to equip Valkyrie - named after the female spirits of Norse mythology - to go to the red planet many years before astronauts are able to make the journey, for pre-deployment tasks and to maintain assets on Mars.
University scientists will seek to improve the robot's handling and walking capabilities, and use Valkyrie's sophisticated on-board sensors to help it make sense of its environment, and improve its manoeuvrability.
Researchers will also aim to further develop the robot's ability to interact closely and safely with humans and other machines.
Valkyrie's human-like shape is designed to enable it to work alongside people, or carry out high-risk tasks in place of people. They have Iron Man-style glowing chest emblems that contain linear actuators to help with waist movement.
Their power source comes from a battery in a backpack that lasts for around an hour.
Sensors include sonar and Lidar, and operators can see what the Valkyries are doing on cameras attached to their heads, arms, abdomens, and legs.
R5 is an update to its existing Robonaut, which currently on the 260-mile-high ISS, performing mundane cleaning chores and fetching things for the human crew.
Each leg - 4 feet, 8 inches long - has seven joints. Instead of feet, there are grippers, each with a light, camera and sensor for building 3-D maps.
Nasa engineers based the design on the tether attachments used by spacewalking astronauts.
Software developed through this challenge will be transferable across other robotics systems, allowing the technology produced to be used both with older robotics models, such as the Robonaut 2, and any future models developed.
Each team's R5 will be will be challenged with resolving the aftermath of a dust storm that has damaged a Martian habitat like Mars (pictured). This involves three objectives: aligning a communications dish, repairing a solar array, and fixing a habitat leak
With the technology generated by this challenge, robots could participate in precursor missions to selected landing sites, arriving long before astronauts to set up habitats, life support systems, communications and solar apparatuses, and even begin preliminary scientific research.
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