NASA News: Two Universities Chosen to Work on Robots for Possible Space Exploration
The search for life beyond Earth, additional solar systems, and other objects in space continues as NASA has teamed up with two universities for the development of robots, which could pass up for future deep space explorations and other missions.
From the first man who stepped on the moon's surface to the latest expeditions that revealed how Mars may have been a planet that once catered to life, the most recent plan is to work on robots that could get on board space rovers and other space crafts in the future.
According to NBC News, NASA has chosen the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Northeastern University to work on prototypes of the R5 humanoid robot.
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The R5 is a robot built with the idea of resembling the human body. Humanoid robots may be used for functional purposes, and in the case of the R5, NASA built it for the purpose of aiding in disaster relief operations.
This time, though, the university technological teams and NASA are planning to revamp the R5's system and turn it into one that is able to perform the usual activities that astronauts are adept to during space expeditions.
Associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA said, "Advances in robotics, including human-robotic collaboration, are critical to developing the capabilities required for our journey to Mars."
If the R5 development becomes a success, man will see the first humanoid robots exploring outer space or even touching the surface of Mars and other planets that NASA believes are capable of life.
Meanwhile, Ars Technica reports that NASA and Russia have once again resumed discussions that would possibly bring forth a joint exploration that seeks to further study Venus and its atmosphere.
As part of the discussions, the space agency will come up with a feasibility report that will record the activities of Venus all year long. Additional meetings will also be held before a final meeting will determine if the project will push through with Russia's Space Research Institute (IKI).
