Robots with a human touch
The German Aerospace Center's (DLR) Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics in Oberpfaffenhofen develops some of the world's most advanced robotic systems. A primary focus is on telerobotics and haptic feedback, which allow human operators to control a robot from a distance and "feel" what the robot touches. This technology was tested in space as early as 2005 with the ROKVISS experiment, a robotic arm mounted on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). For over five years, operators at the DLR facility in Weilheim controlled the 50-centimeter arm, performing delicate tasks to test the reliability of lightweight robotic joints in the harsh space environment, where temperatures ranged from -20 to +60 degrees Celsius.
This research into remote operation continues with humanoid robots like Rollin' Justin. This 200 kg wheeled robot has two compliant, lightweight arms, four-fingered hands, and a head with stereo cameras for 3D vision. Its upper body has 43 controllable degrees of freedom, and its joints are equipped with torque sensors that allow it to perform sensitive manipulation tasks, such as catching a thrown ball or preparing coffee without spilling. Astronauts aboard the ISS, like Frank Rubio, have remotely controlled Rollin' Justin as it navigates a simulated Martian landscape at the Oberpfaffenhofen facility, practicing the setup of a planetary base.