European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Marcus Wandt has recently achieved a historic feat by remotely controlling a four-legged robot dog named Bert from the International Space Station (ISS).
This marks the first time a legged robot has been manipulated from space, diverging from the traditional remote control of wheel-driven counterparts (via IFLScience).
The Surface Avatar Test
The "Surface Avatar" test, conducted in January, aimed to push the boundaries of human-robot interaction in extraterrestrial environments.
Wandt not only controlled Bert but also oversaw other Earth-based robotic systems such as DLR's humanoid service robot Rollin' Justin and ESA's Interact Rover. What is the objective? To lay the groundwork for future missions to celestial bodies such as the Moon or Mars, astronauts will command a diverse team of robots.
Bert, developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), has legs designed to navigate various terrains, allowing access to areas inaccessible to wheeled robots. During the experiment, Wandt led Bert through DLR's Mars laboratory, allowing the robot to explore and monitor the "terrain" using its advanced camera eyes.
The test also demonstrated collaboration among different robots. Rollin' Justin and Interact Rover, each with unique abilities, collaborated to install a short pipe, which represented a scientific measuring device. This was a significant step forward in the complex world of robotic teamwork, demonstrating the ability of multiple robots to collaborate on tasks such as habitat construction.
DLR emphasized the challenges of cooperation, stating, "Even between humans, cooperation is complex. Agreements have to be made and mutual intentions understood. This is a particular challenge when different robots have to form a team and complete a task together."
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Remote-Controlled Martian Robots
Looking past the novelty of controlling robots from space, the overall vision is compelling. Alin Albu-Schäffer, Director of the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, sees a future in which "stations on the Moon and Mars, including astronaut habitats, will be built and maintained by robots operating under the guidance of astronauts."
The team's latest control and AI algorithms allow a single astronaut to command an entire team of robots, representing a paradigm shift in space exploration.
The "Surface Avatar" experiment is part of a larger initiative led by the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Space Operations Center (GSOC).
It is consistent with ongoing efforts to develop innovative technologies that enable precise control of multiple robots, either semi-autonomously or fully autonomously, for future exploration missions.
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