NASA Government Invention of the Year for 2014 has been awarded to Robonaut 2 (R2), the first humanoid robot in space.
R2 resides aboard the International Space Station, though its prototype is at NASA's Johnson Space Center. NASA is updating the technology used to develop R2 so it can be used on Earth.
The robot won the award after being assessed in the areas of Aerospace Significance, Industry Significance, Humanitarian Significance, Technology Readiness Level, NASA Use, Industry Use and Creativity. The panel saw that the machine exemplified the NASA's mission to make advanced technology available in U.S. industry.
"I am proud of the entire Robonaut team that made this achievement possible and look forward to future robotic firsts that I have no doubt they will accomplish," said Ron Diftler, Ph.D., project manager for Robonaut in the Robotic Systems Technology Branch at NASA's Johnson Space Center, NASA reported.
R2 is a faster version of the first Robonaut (R1), which was built to explore the potential of robots capable of assisting astronauts during space explorations. These machines would be made to help in work preparations as well as perform maintenance tasks.
This humanoid robot has more sensing, a greater motion range, and its system is fully developed to work alongside astronauts, giving it great potential during space station activities, according to Space Coast Daily.
