Robonaut 2, also known as R2, was co-developed by NASA with American manufacturer GM and weighs 300-pounds. It is built as a human with a head, a torso and two hands, but with no legs and is meant to be used as an assistant to humans.
“One of GM’s core goals is to lead in advanced technology and quality," said Alan Taub, GM’s vice president of Global Research and Development. “This partnership and the development of R2 are providing us with innovative technologies that will help us achieve these goals in both our future products and plants.”
R2 has been created so that it can use the same tools that station crew members. For now, due to the lack of proper outer-space protection however, it cannot be used in spacewalks. In the future however, that may change and the robot may get new roles.
During the November flight, NASA and GM will study the robot and the effects of zero gravity, radiation and electromagnetic interference. Ways to integrate the technologies of the robot into the GM production lines and vehicles will also be researched.
“We envision the R2 technology transfer will enable GM to build better, safer, higher quality vehicles in a more flexible, more competitive and safer manufacturing environment,” added Taub.
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