Space changes the rules for almost everything, including how a robot should move.On Earth, legs help us stand, balance and walk across a room.
In microgravity, those same legs lose much of their purpose.That is why Orbit Robotics, an academic spinout from ETH Zurich, took a different approach with Helios.The robot was built with four arms so it can grip, brace and work inside a spacecraft.
Two arms can hold on while the other two handle tools, cargo and equipment.It is a smart design for a place where floating is easy and staying steady is the real challenge.Here is how Helios works and why it could change the way astronauts get help in orbit.IS THIS SPACE CAPSULE HOW WE WILL LIVE AND WORK IN ORBIT IN THE FUTURE?Helios uses two arms to anchor itself while the other two move cargo, tools and equipment inside a spacecraft.
(Orbit Robotics)Helios uses two pairs of arms with different jobs.One pair can anchor the robot to interior surfaces.
The other pair can handle tools, unload cargo, move equipment or perform other work inside a spacecraft.That setup is important because stability and work need to happen at the same time in orbit.A floating robot cannot casually plant its feet, bend over and pick something up.
It needs to hold on while it works.That is where Helios makes sense.Two arms can keep it steady while the other two get the job done.
In microgravity, legs become extra hardware unless they can grip, brace or manipulate objects.Helios skips that problem by turning the whole body into a tool for movement and work.Orbit Robotics says Helios uses a tendon-driven system.
Instead of placing motors at every joint, the robot keeps many of those motors closer to the shoulders.Cables and pulleys then transmit force through the arms.That design can reduce weight at the ends of the limbs.
In space, heavy limbs can create awkward movement.A robot also needs control, especially when it is holding cargo or tools near expensive equipment.Helios also uses a rolling-co...