Research
A robot just built a structure autonomously in space for the 1st time ever
Space.com · By Elizabeth Howell ·
The Brief
- A robotic "truss builder" autonomously assembled a structure in space without a human touching the controls, according to Space.com.
- The DARPA-funded project built a reflective antenna from Kapton film, composite fiber tubes and aluminum joints.
- Space.com describes it as the first satellite structure assembled this way.
Why it matters
It shows that robots can build satellite structures in orbit without direct human control, which could matter for future space hardware that is assembled rather than launched in one piece.
Who’s affected
- space engineers
- researchers in space robotics
- #space robotics
- #autonomous assembly
- #satellites
- #antennas
- #darpa
A robot just played Tinkertoys in space, assembling the first satellite structure ever made without a human touching the controls. The DARPA-funded project saw a robotic "truss builder" create a reflective antenna using Kapton film, composite fiber tubes and aluminum joints. The…