Many times we have talked about the possibility of robots replacing astronauts in future trips to space. Today we will learn about a project promoted by the POT of a humanoid robot: Apollo.
The company Apptronik is behind its construction, with NASA as a partner to commercialize it.
The interest of the US space agency, according to CNET, is “to encourage the development of humanoid robots that could one day lead to a robotic space explorer.”
“Robots have the potential to reshape our existence,” he says. apptronik in his web page. “Our mission is to harness robotics to improve the quality of life for all.”
“Robots will become one of the most powerful and effective tools humanity has ever created. We believe that robots should do the work that humans don’t want to do,” adds the Texas-based company.
The bad thing is that Apptronik has not published any official image of Apollo, although it has of other prototypes (QDH and Astra) whose designs would be similar to it.
The first Apollo deliveries will take place by 2024
Jeff Cárdenas is the CEO of Apptronik, and spoke with CNET about the humanoid robot Apollo. “It’s the robot we’ve always wanted to build,” the boss begins.
“We have designed the entire world for the human form,” says Cárdenas. “Having a robot that has the same footprint as a human and can use the same tools that we use and fit into the same places…is incredibly useful.”
The real form of Apollo will soon be known, scheduling the first deliveries of the robot for 2024.
robots in space
Several experts suggest that the future of space travel involves the use of robots instead of astronauts. They do not need to breathe or feed and, programmed, they can perform tasks similar to those of any human, but in an inhospitable environment such as the Moon or Mars.
Recently, the Japanese aerospace agency JAXA sent SORA-Q, a rolling robot very similar to the BB-8 from Star Wars, to the Moon.
By the time it reaches our natural satellite, it will unfold, expose a pair of cameras, and have two wheels, sending images of the lunar environment back to Earth.
This tiny robonaut, made of a honeycomb aluminum alloy casing by Takara Tomy, is a smaller version of the rovers found on Mars today. However, it could mean a huge step for the future of space travel.