Robots are already doing some pretty crazy things here on Earth. Now, for the first time, one has actually built something in space without any help from astronauts.
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have managed to get a robot to autonomously build part of a structure in orbit. And while it is not particularly impressive in size, what scientists hope to do with the technology in the future certainly is.
Robot Successfully Builds Structure In Space For The First Time
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funded the project to see whether robots could assemble large structures in space without human astronauts there to help them.
ScienceDaily reports that the autonomous robot, called the Autonomous In-Space Tensioned Reflector Assembly (ASTRA), was launched into orbit on a SpaceX rocket.
ASTRA’s task was to build a 4.5-foot-wide reflector antenna from composite tubes, aluminum connectors, and a lightweight reflective material.
The robot’s job was to grab parts from storage containers and connect them together with a mechanical arm, much like a person, as DARPA put it, building something with sophisticated versions of K’Nex or Tinkertoy construction toys.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go exactly as planned.
The robot launched with two sections already built and managed to construct a third section in space. However, technical difficulties and time constraints prevented it from completing the 11-section antenna.
“There are always lots of little surprises,” researcher Jaden Suh explained.
So scientists on Earth watched the robot and used an identical machine in their lab to troubleshoot problems.
“Every time we confirm there is an issue in space, we come to the laboratory and try to mimic the problem on the ground,” said Caltech engineer Charles Sommer.
The researchers say the experiment has shown the concept works, despite the setbacks.
“This is the first time that a structure has been autonomously constructed in space,” said Caltech professor Sergio Pellegrino.
Scientists Want Robots To Build Massive Structures In Space
DARPA hopes the technology will eventually allow robots to build huge telescopes, communications antennas and solar arrays in orbit. Some of those structures could end up being hundreds of meters or even kilometers long.
“Nothing approaching that scale can be achieved today,” DARPA program manager Andrew Detor said.
The main benefit is that scientists wouldn’t have to worry about loading an entire structure into a rocket before launch.
Meanwhile, while that was going on in space, robots here on Earth are already working as bartenders, serving as police officers, getting into human-versus-robot MMA fights, and trying to break Usain Bolt’s 100-meter world record.
Building things in space is just the next logical step, apparently.