NASA’s Humanoid Robot Robonaut Wakes Up In Space

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Robonaut, the NASA’s humanoid robot which was sent to the international space station last February has finally awakened. Ground controllers turned Robonaut on Monday by sending power to all its systems but programmed to move next week.

Four visible light cameras which serve as Robonaut’s eyes turned on in the gold-colored head, as did the infrared camera, located in the robot’s mouth and needed for depth perception. “Sure wish I could move my head and look around,” Robonaut said in one of Robonaut’s tweets.

Robonaut is the first humanoid robot in space being tested as a possible astronaut’s helper. The main computers inside Robonaut’s stomach kicked on as well as with the more than 30 processors embedded in the arms for controlling the joints.

Deputy Project Manager Nicolaus Radford said that Robonaut behaved himself and got definitely got an ‘A.’ On Sept. 1, controllers will command Robonaut to move its fingers, hands and arms. The robot has been asleep for about a year.  In the same manner with a crew member, the robot has to learn how it needs to move in weightlessness.

Meantime, Robonaut exists from the waist up. It measures 3 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 330 pounds. Each arm is 2 feet 8 inches long. A pair of legs is currently being designed and should be launched in 2013.

NASA’s @AstroRobonaut twitter feed keeps followers up-to-date on the on the progress of the Space Station’s bionic passenger.

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