NASA to launch R2 to join Space Station Crew

[ReePoe]

Ground Breaking stuff, cant believe that something like this isn't being covered more by the world press.. I only found out about this through some small story on the BBC news page about the shuttle launch being delayed.. btw they should use G.E.R.T.Y's face with H.A.L's voice =D

[BrentonTherefore]

This is going to be so much extra work and effort for the Astronauts. I don't understand why they would want to do this.

[Morndenkainen]

Sigh...The lack of innovation at NASA never ceases to amaze me. For people that are supposedly so damn smart, you guys sure are stupid when it comes to reality.

1. Dont send a single robot, send 5.

2. A robot does not need legs to move around the station, it can be done using hands/arms.

3. You dont need autonomous robots. Using them as remotely operated workers would work just as well. Even for autonomous robots, the RO function should be included.

4. Use 3d camera's instead of 2d camera's.

[Countiac]

Yes! An "R2" that looks like C3PO!!!

[Hackzoid]

amazing.

[sturedenlure]

I'm afraid I can't let you do that, NASA.

[twilight1138]

I, for one, welcome our new robotic overlords.

[45182]

By your command!!

[FlashIeme]

R2D2 Anyone D:

[RobinDropping]

Thanks for posting.

[sopor11081981]

Please, open the door, HAL.

[sopor11081981]

Please, open the door, HAL.

[sopor11081981]

Please, open the door, HAL.

[leerolofson]

R2... I see what you did there.

[SiliconeSlave]

Wow, what an improvement from version 1. I'm sure the astronauts will have a much easier time handling it in zero-g than the guys in the lab - needing a crane to lift it. Maybe with the later versions you could just stick on more arms, since you don't really need legs in space.

Great work, keep it up! :D

[sportniik]

Why don t you use compressed air to move him around? Put the exhaust on bottom of his body.

You use same principles on space shuttle whene you move him or ( in Star trek they use this for docking :D )

[youngdaddytc26]

running windows xp at 2:27 im not so sure that's a good thing... ? but i guess that's better than vista.

[AviationDad]

Come with me if you want to live

[sharpedge22]

I want one...i could just imagine.. "clean my room"... "guard the door"...."feed the dog"..."supply my every need"

[StormyWeather21]

Sweet, I cant wait!!!

[OverDrive1616]

beautiful!

[Digeridude]

Wow, it truly is 2010.

[Colten420]

R1's helmet was much more cooler imo. I loved going into the lab with my step mom during the summer and seeing Robonaut in the left corner of a dim lab, was so awesome!

[805drifter]

Good work. I don't care how much it costs. A human life is priceless. If that robot can be used instead of a human, it's worth it. The savings would probably add up over time anyways (no food, waste, travel back and forth, no compensation, no retirement, etc)! But, since it's ivh right now, I wonder what experiments it will b working on.

[lyrmat]

This is highly amazing !!...what you guys can create !! *Thumbs Up*

[HarriOnPelle]

Are those boards in the room for soundproofing? What for they are there? It looks like the R2 would be recording a song there :D

[carbonitekid]

@HarriOnPelle. Its called an Anechoic chamber. There is a good desription on Wiki. I used to use one in the defence radar industry.

[Bielocke]

How much will it cost?

[theflyingdiablo]

this looks very intresting what is the cost to build one just the parts and (shipping) not with the R&D

[frankyd1987]

0:01 "Hello, I am Master Chief. Lololoollololoolololololoololo­ollllool" Amazing

[contourman]

Is the leg going to by like a 3rd arm? Coz the would be badass.

P.S. the music sucks in the video.

[NASAJSCER]

@contourman It's very likely that the leg will be very similar to a 3rd arm.

I'll work on the music for the next video.

[thinktothemax]

@NASAJSCER So it would move it's self around the craft in zero gravity? Wouldn't magnetic wheels be easier?

[NASAJSCER]

@thinktothemax For the first phase they need to keep it's location in a more fixed space as they check out functionality and install upgrades. The leg will probably be targeted more for the final EVA phase.

[thinktothemax]

@NASAJSCER Thanks for the response, and what does EVA stand for?

[NASAJSCER]

@thinktothemax ExtraVehicular Activity - R2 is currently only rated for IVA, Intravehicular Activity. What this means is that R2 will work inside Station until it can be upgrade and tested at which point it can operate in space, outside Station.

[gsfjohndoe]

You guys should've called it R2D2, not just R2.

[theflyingdiablo]

@gsfjohndoe there eventualy gonna send up another one to keep him company they will name him D2

also this looks very intresting what is the cost to build one just the parts and (shipping) not with the R&D

[Bielocke]

This thing is amazing...

What will be the cost of one of these?

[Legolasbdn]

Amazing!!!