Robonaut Got Legs...

Robonaut hasn't had any legs since he first joined the crews aboard the ISS. That is about to change however as a brand new pair of gams are aboard the next Dragon supply mission.

That doesn't mean that Rob will be cutting a rug with the addition of  the lower extremities which are better suited for a weightless environment.   The first thing you notice is the legs have an additional joint below the knee allowing the legs to bend in some decidedly non human positions.

Check out the complete article over on Popular Science  HERE

First in Space Human - Robonaut Handshake

So here is a Nasa video of a first ever. The first human / robot handshake in space. There it is in all its' glory. Very auspicious occasion. Nope I can't do it....is anyone else profoundly sad right now? Are you struck speechless at the total frivolity and waste of a platform said to be the answer to the dangers of working in space? Something to truly aide astronauts - side by side - into the future....yeah that kind of stuff they said when this project was first introduced to the public....PR HANDSHAKES W....T....F...?!

Yeah I know...sarcastic, jaded and all of that...sorry, but I honestly couldn't even watch the whole video. I quit when mission control congratulated Dan Burbank for a job well done while the remaining crew documented it. Look, I bought one of those Radio Shack robot arms back in the 70s when then first came out....laid out some serious cash for it back then...30 bucks or something....anyway, I can remember telling my brother hey shake hands with it! great fun that.... 40 years and for less money than it costs for a screw in Robonauts finger and it was a joke then......

ok, I guess I have probably pissed off enough people...I'm done.

Robonaut 2 Begins To Power up

IO9 is reporting that Robonaut 2, aboard the ISS since February, has been given commands to start a limited power up sequence. Robonaut won't be moving its various appendages until September 1, when the droid will finally be commanded to move its fingers, hands, and arms.

R2 is currently designed to stay inside the space station at all times and since the legs have not been sent up yet, it must remain docked to a permanent pedestal. When both parts are mated, R2 "may" join crew members on space walks. (ummm yeah, read the article, that's what it says! I was of the opinion that this thing was supposed to free up crew and DO space walks...and the only thing it can do is stay inside?! WTF?! Anyone else feeling gypped? All that hype and they have an expensive doll wo ho) a pair of legs are currently being designed and should be launched in 2013.

Right now I am a whole lot unimpressed....oh, it DOES tweet real nice though....

Robonaut due for launch to ISS

Dan brought in an article reminding me that NASA's new robotic platform Robonaut is due for launch to the International Space Station November 3 2010. The station already has robust robotic arms from Canada and Japan, but what makes Robonaut different is that it can carry out tasks without human intervention where the present robotic equipment requires trained operators to operate them at all times. Another milestone for the platform is that it is the first humanoid robot ever sent into space. The "R2" unit, weighing in at apx. 300 pounds is just the upper half of a complete system, however with two arms and two five finger hands, it is very well suited for space operations. The unit has 350 sensors throughout its body. The gold visored head contains 4 nomal light cameras and an infra-red camera behind the forward facing grill. NASA hopes to have a reliable leg sub-assembly delivered sometime next year which will bring Robonaut to complete functionality.

Robonaut will fly on Discovery's 39th mission which is the next to last shuttle mission (although NASA is reserving one additional flight if needed) .

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