Existing Technology to Be Used for Project M

While the project is not fully funded nor vetted at the agency level, much progress has already been made by leveraging and coalescing existing, funded technology work; by forming innovative partnerships; and by a small project team focusing on fast iterative design, test, and execution.

Project M is a proposed project to land an operational humanoid robot on the moon in 1000 days (M is the Roman numeral for 1000). The humanoid will travel to the moon on a small lander fueled by green propellants, liquid methane and liquid oxygen. It will perform a precision, autonomous landing, avoiding any hazards or obstacles on the surface. Upon landing the robot will deploy and walk on the surface performing a multitude of tasks focused on demonstrating engineering tasks such as maintenance and construction; performing science of opportunity (i.e. using existing sensors on the robot or small science instruments); and simple student experiments.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Project M
• NASA
• Humanoid
• Moon
• Lunar
• Space
• Future
• Animation
• Robonaut
• R2
• Robonaut 2
• Robonaut2
• Spacecraft
• Lander
• Precision Landing
• Science

[dicker70]

Why do they have to reinvent the "wheel" i.e. a walking robot,

Couldn't you just by Asimo-Technology and start from there ?

[NASAProjectM]

@dicker70 Our partners at IHMC have taken the next "step" and designed a system that can recover when it encounters unknown terrain. These legs can be pushed and it will automatically take a step to the side to recover. This kind of dynamic system is essential for terrain such as the moon or an asteroid.

[LetsTakeArideOut]

to tell the truth, you would have to recreate the entire muscle and tendon network of the human leggs, and then get the right weights and forces to hold it up, would you not? any opinions on this?

[likhi1]

why don't buy technology from honda asimo .??

now azimo he can ran but your root can't even walk correct..!!!

[Craigthepope]

@NASAProjectM Cool.

[Craigthepope]

@dicker70 The legs seem kind of similar to Asimo.

[Craigthepope]

Wow it's weird seeing a DOS like program on an LCD screen.

[Craigthepope]

They're going to have to do a lot of work with the legs to get it to balance correctly on uneven terrain.

[CuervoBlack06]

@dicker70 Because they want a reliable robot. That's why they're sending Robonaut and not that crap Asimo.

[FruityLoopsas]

3 years with technology we have is enoug.......