The International Space Station was built so that it can accommodate six permanent crew members, but this will soon change without the need for additional costs or expand the capacity of the ISSA. The plan is an additional seventh crew member.
Robonauti as a new crew to the ISS
Humanoid, humanoid robots are now a reality. The U.S. space agency, in cooperation with private companies, including the automotive giant General Motors, has developed a new generation of humanoid robot named R2.
According to the published information, our mission will be the last shuttle Discovery later this year to deliver a specially prepared ISS robot-astronaut (robonaut!) in weightless conditions that govern the ISS.
Model R2, which has not yet received its specific name will have a head, arms and torso. Masses of several tens of kilograms of this robot will be equipped with all systems that are required for autonomous operation and collaboration with a human crew to the space station. Initially robonaut will be located in the Destiny module. This type of robot designed to look and work like a man. Although this project is actually a test and conduct research on how robots interact with humans in future missions, robonautu is paid great attention. An important additional task of the human crew will be on the ISSU and perception, and learning how to work with the robot, but robots and learning how to work with people.
According to John Olson, director of NASA's Exploration Systems Integration, the potential of working together humans and robots is essential for the further development of astronautics and the exploration of other worlds in combined missions. Worlds that man will never visit it will be investigated by robonauta. The foundations of this work is that in the near future is being created with this mission. Very fast new models and variants of type R2 will get your feet (the ISSU they are not needed) and just like people will be able to walk, sit, powerful robot hand with refined senses take a stone from the moon or Mars soil and examine him on the face of various devices ..
The current R2, which is preparing for the ISS is not equipped with systems of protection against cosmic radiation, and could not be used outside the station. It will have to do some of his successors! Maybe R2D2? (Remember Star Wars, author's note).
Marino Tumpić