Space Smurfs: S02E09

Robotics in Space Research

Lunokhod 1; Source: https://www.pocket-lint.com/gadgets/news/147685-space-robots

Ever since the space race began in the 1960s, countries have been working on sending robots to space. The earliest example is the then USSR’s Lunokhod 1, which traveled 10 km across the lunar surface from November 1970 till summer 1971 and sent back soil samples and photographs of the moon’s craters. Since then, space robotics has grown leaps and bounds and is still advancing exponentially with the advent of artificial intelligence and cloud computing. We now have robots that can work for years without breaking down and with functionalities far faster, more detailed, and more precise than human capabilities.

Space robotics means exactly how it sounds: using robots for space-related applications. For example, the Mars rover Perseverance is a well-known space robot. Another example is the autonomous helicopter named Ingenuity that was sent with Perseverance in exploring Mars.

Perseverance Rover; Source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/rover-robot-nasa-perseverance-rover-6339122/

Ingenuity; Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/ingenuity-helicopter-mars-sky-6173695/

Robonaut is a perfect example of what space robots can be expected to look like and function in the future. There is a lot of research going on with plans to send more robots to the Moon and Mars in the coming years, such as the VIPER by NASA. The main reasons for the existence of this field of study are that it is a less risky and less expensive endeavor compared to sending humans to space. The main difference between space robots and earth robots is that space robots are designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions like a vacuum, excessive radiation, microgravity, etc. They are also designed to be redundant in case of component failures. To ensure redundancy, some companies are also working on developing swarms of robots for space missions instead of a single unit. The challenge in these projects is the control aspect of multiple robots as a single entity, and how that will change in case of malfunctions.

NASA astronaut Dan Burbank with Robonaut 2 in the Destiny Laboratory of the ISS; Source: https://www.pocket-lint.com/gadgets/news/147685-space-robots

The other significant difference between space robots and earth robots is their objectives. Space robots can be broadly classified into two types based on their design goals: exploring robots and servicing robots. Exploring robots are mainly developed to take pictures of space objects, collect soil samples, and perform tests on outer space surfaces. There are even asteroid-chasing robots that land on asteroids, mine surface samples, and travel back to Earth. This is done to characterize the chemical composition of the asteroids and study their origin and formation and analyze how it relates to the formation of our solar system. An example is the Hyabusa-2 mission that was sent to investigate a near-Earth asteroid 162173 Ryugu. (Also, refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayabusa2 ).

Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2; Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E3%81%AF%E3%82%84%E3%81%B6%E3%81%952.jpg

Extensive research is being done on servicing robots such as self-repairing robots based on artificial intelligence, so that space robots become more robust and reliable in case of failures, communication breakdowns, and other unforeseen emergencies. Artificial intelligence is also being studied in order to equip robots with autonomous local mapping and navigation capabilities since the Martian and lunar surfaces are mostly featureless and thus harder to chart. It is also being used to design servicing robots that would potentially collect and remove space debris categorically based on shape, size, type, etc.

Left: Home position of the Future Space Debris Removal Orbital Manipulator (FSDROM) (a 7-DoF redundant robot arm attached to the spacecraft); Right: Position of the Future Space Debris Removal Orbital Manipulator (FSDROM) with Manipulator capturing orbital debris. Source: Shyam, R. & Hao, Zhou & Montanaro, Umberto & Dixit, Shilp & Rathinam, Arunkumar & Gao, Yang & Neumann, Gerhard & Fallah, Saber. (2021). Autonomous Robots for Space: Trajectory Learning and Adaptation Using Imitation. Frontiers in Robotics and AI. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Left-Home-position-of-the-Future-Space-Debris-Removal-Orbital-Manipulator-FSDROM-a_fig2_351335742

If you think this is your calling…

Space robotics is an interdisciplinary field of research as it involves design, materials, computing, and a multitude of other areas of study. It is deeply interesting and requires many passionate and curious minds to brainstorm together and come up with efficient solutions. To work in this industry, it is vital to keep up with the advancements and seek further knowledge. This can be done via attending workshops, listening to podcasts, reading research papers, etc., and reaching out to the people who are involved in them. Networking and meeting other like-minded people who work in this field is essential to become familiar with the kind of work involved and become a part of it.

There are many avenues available for those who are keen to upgrade their skills Spaceonova?, cofounded by our guest Dr. Shreya Santra, is one such venture, where space application-related courses are offered for study and research. There are also conferences conducted by the Space Generation Advisory Council - SGAC, for short. Spaceport SARABHAI is an Indian space industry think tank that aims to accelerate India’s presence in the space sector on a global stage and be an integral part of the new space economy and participate in the creation of space laws and policies. They also conduct workshops that discuss the Indian space industry, accomplishments, and opportunities that would be helpful for those looking for a place to start their space science journey. For all things moon, the Moon Village Association can be referred to, for its wide array of technical projects and events, such as forums for discussion on architecture, economics, culture, etc. on the lunar surface.

Source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/robot-planet-moon-space-future-2256814/

The Asia-Pacific region is made up of emerging space nations that have immense potential for the future. These budding prospects must be sustainably nurtured through cooperation and collaboration between the various countries. India and Japan already have training programs (university internships, graduate programs, etc.) in place for students and researchers from all parts of the region. APOSA is also working towards this same goal of creating a healthy space-industry framework in the region.

All these groups of people, working in stimulating research areas, toward a common goal, while also empowering others and creating exciting opportunities to work with, are the foundation and hope for a safe and secure space future for all of us.

Extra Notes on our Guest for your Inspiration

Dr. Shreya Santra, Ph.D., Co-Founder, and Director of?Spaceonova?, Assistant Professor at the Space Robotics Laboratory at Tohuku University, and the Director of Technology and Outreach at Spaceport SARABHAI is our guest on the latest episode of Space Smurfs. She has an extensive experience in the field of space technology and robotics. The incredible heights she has reached in her career have all been due to her endless enthusiasm and passion for space ever since her school days. Like most of us, she also loves space movies and novels and has been inspired by them. She remembers October Sky (1999) as one of her all-time favorites and also being inspired by the recent Hidden Figures (2016), as she says there are many such hidden women in the Indian space scene too. She goes on to say that it is both our privilege and responsibility to work hard in this industry, share knowledge and pave the way for younger generations to be active participants in this fast-growing field of space robotics and create scientific history.