The International Space Station, as nine out of ten scientists and probably as many science writers will say (at a guess) is a scientific bust. An equal share may concede it’s an engineering and construction masterwork – or a piece of heroic mechanical and performance art built at staggering public expense. I for one can’t say I approve of it, but also can’t resist some pride in the primary role of people wearing American flags in its construction. With the shuttle’s life ending it is appropriate that among the most arresting ISS gadgets of all is aboard flight STS-133 and about to take up residence: Robonaut 2. It wears a NASA logo, and one for industrial partner General Motors. My idea: GM ads for its new Volt should include some with R2 driving the car,a double dose of GM’s post-bankruptcy technical chops.
A mechanical helpmate for astronauts who don’t want to suit up for a spacewalk everyday is one thing. To put humanoid arms on it with humanoid gloves at the end of those arms, those are good, but to top it with broad hunky 
shoulders and a humanoid head wearing a Robert Heinlein-worthy, Roman Centurian-inspired helmet! That’s brilliant. It’s even wearing what looks like a jetpack. No legs of course for a micro-G space bot. Upshot: it’s a story that plenty of outlets cannot resist getting to in advance of Mr. R2’s installation. My idea: GM ads for its new Volt extended range electric car should include some with R2 driving the car, a double dose of GM’s post-bankruptcy technical chops. This project has been around in various forms for 15 years and has gotten plenty of specialty-outlet coverage of the years, but we’re going to see more soon. Here are some of those out already.
(As robots go, it’s not much of a robot. Entirely tele-operated, no autonomous operations at all that I can see. Plus it’s not the first humanoidish robot up there. Canada contributed a thoroughly boxy, chunky one called DEXTRE that sat on the station’s big main mechanical arm).
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Stories:
- Discover Magazine – Eliza Strickland: The Robotic Right Stuff: What It Takes to Become the First Robot Astronaut ; Results of a Q&A with GM engineer, includes a slick video of R2’s flight prep.
- Houston Chronicle – Eric Berger: A last go for the go-to; A general roundup on this last flight for shuttle Discovery – including passages on Robonaut 2 along with word of the main cargo, a large lab named Leonardo, and some history – Discovery put Hubble in space too.
- Space.com – Stephanie Pappas : My date with NASA’s robot: He’s strong, silent type ; plus (no byline) NASA Prepares First Ever Robonaut for Space Shuttle Discovery Launch;
- LA Times – W. J. Hennigan: Robonaut to be launched on the Discovery space shuttle ; Shorty.
*UPDATES (Nov. 2):
- AP -Marcia Dunn: Robot’s space debut ‘giant leap for tinmankind‘ ; Dunn prominently adds a fact easily overlooked – this is still a development prototype that “NASA hopes one day will assist flesh-and-bone astronauts.” I missed that major qualification in zooming through coverage and press material yesterday. So it’s not only not quite a real robot so much as two mechanical arms that ape a nearby astronaut’s movements, it’s not even going to get any major responsibilities.
NY Times – Kenneth Chang: NASA’s Quest to Send a Robot to the Moon ; Good way to do it – stress this as an early step in a larger and highly tentative program of humanoid helpers and, perhaps eventually, really robotic expedition crew members and even some with legs. It’s called Project M, ‘almost a guerrilla effort within NASA,’ Chang reports, and is a recent add-on and expansion of the Robonaut ethos. Maybe we don’t need as non ‘oids up there at all? The piece is quite expansive, including a profile of mid-level NASA engineers and managers in resourceful, smart, hurry-up R&D mode unhindered (and unknown to) top brass.- Guardian (UK) Alok Jha: Meet Robonaut 2, astronaut assistant ;
- Wall St. Journal (blog) Jonathan Welsh: General Motors Robot ‘R2’ Set For Blast Off Wednesday;
Grist for the Mill:
GM Press Release ; NASA Robonaut Info pages; Astronaut Nicole Stott’s twitterfeed ;
– Charlie Petit
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