Welcome Guest. | Log In| Register | Membership Benefits
  • Email this page E-mail this page
  • |  Print Print this page
  • |   Bookmark and Share
  • |  icon
  • | 

NASA Working On Skin For Space Robots


NASA Goddard technologist Vladimir Lumelsky is setting up a laboratory at Goddard to develop skin for robots that would enable them to "feel" things and respond appropriately based on what they "feel."

By Personal Tech Pipeline Staff
Personal Tech Pipeline
May 13, 2005 02:58 PM

NASA Goddard technologist Vladimir Lumelsky is setting up a laboratory at Goddard to develop skin for robots that would enable them to "feel" things and respond appropriately based on what they "feel."

The first project is to develop a robot skin embedded with 1,000 infrared sensors that would detect an object, and send the information to the robot's "brain." The brain would digest the information, apply reasoning and react within milliseconds by directing the robot to move. Future skin prototypes likely will have a higher density of sensors on the skin, which will provide the robots with even greater dexterity.

The flexible plastic modules that will house the skin's electronics will have to undergo a lot of testing to make sure they're space qualified and able to withstand radiation and extreme changes in light and temperature.

In addition, embedding the electronics on a large surface material, or printing the skin like wallpaper, presents another major hurdle. Work also is needed in the area of motion-planning development and intelligence.

The sensitive skin was identified as a key technology to develop at Goddard. It would prove vital in situations where humans and robots work side-by-side in the construction of large telescopes and in the operation of both in-space and extraterrestrial equipment.

Video Demonstrations:
Ballet Dancer
Robot Gets Out Of Way

More Personal Tech Insights

White Papers

Videos


You'll always know where you are with this global-positioning wristwatch, from Garmin. Want to project your mobile phone onto a big screen? Here's how. Techweb's Weekly Comedy Show on Pi, Apple, Google, Funerals and more.
Techweb's Weekly Comedy Show on Pi, Apple, Google, Funerals and more.


Subscribe to RSS


Advertisement

CAREER CENTER
Ready to take that job and shove it?



TechCareers

SEARCH
Function:

Keyword(s):

State:
SPONSOR
RECENT JOB POSTINGS
CAREER NEWS
10 Search Engines You Don't Know About
Go beyond Google and get vertical. These specialized search sites will help you find the business information you need -- fast.

Yahoo Profits Fall 23%, Cuts 1,000 Jobs
Ari Balogh was named to the post of chief technology officer as the companys for a "realignment" of employees.

More articles from our career center





Subscription Info
Apply for a free 52-week subscription to InformationWeek (a $199 value)

Last Name:

First Name:

Title:

Company Name:

City:

Business Address:

Zip:

State:

Email Address:

NOTE: Offer valid for U.S., U.S. possessions, & Canada only

            

Join economist Chris Cornell and 3 CIOs in an Exclusive Online Exchange for Senior IT Executives: Using IT to Drive Value in a Turbulent Economy. November 5th only.