NASA has recently designed a semi-autonomous robot that can thrive in hostile environments. The robot has been programmed to make use of human tools and also to find its own path to cross the terrain safely to the desired location picked by its operator. NASA hopes to employ the robot so as to build colonies on the Moon or Mars. It can also be used on the Earth, especially in places where the humans cannot reach. As a Martian exploration program, NASA plans to cross the mission to Mars by 2020. The space agency has been developing robots for the unchartered mission and now is planning on using its humanoid robot, Valkyrie to develop a base on the Red Planet.
The basic goal of this robot is to help build human colonies on Mars. The robot has been designed to navigate through the rocky terrains using its hydraulic power. This humanoid has an infrared-transparent faceplate that uses a whirring LIDAR sensor to scan through the various objects and obstacles. Its dual brain, two Intel iCore i7 computers, use the sensors’ input. The robot can use its battery pack to function for an hour as well in case of trouble. Valkyrie has a Multisense SL camera, 3D stereo & video, and additional hazard cameras for performing the exploration task.
The American space agency just wanted to replicate the human walk on the planetary body. The new humanoid is believed to help replicate the human colonization on Mars and also reveal various techniques to tackle the Martian environment even before we start colonizing in space. Likewise, NASA is known for its earlier space-based robotic developments such as the Curiosity, Spirit, and Opportunity. These robots were found to be strong and active on their wheels for a couple of years and make a number of interior and exterior discoveries of the planet.
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