The European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have been collaborating on the Surface Avatar project, aiming to enhance human-robot collaboration for future lunar and Martian missions. This initiative involves astronauts remotely controlling robotic teams from the International Space Station (ISS) to perform tasks on Earth, simulating extraterrestrial environments.
In a recent experiment, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio operated a team of robots located at DLR's Mars laboratory in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, from the ISS. The robots, including DLR's humanoid robot Rollin' Justin and ESA's Interact Rover, were tasked with retrieving a scientific instrument from a lander and placing it in a designated area. This experiment marks a significant step in demonstrating the feasibility of deploying heterogeneous robotic teams to perform collaborative tasks on planetary surfaces, with astronauts commanding them from orbit.
The Surface Avatar project employs a multi-modal user interface, allowing astronauts to control robots as intelligent co-workers and haptically coupled avatars. This interface includes a graphical user interface, a joystick, and a force-reflecting input device, enabling astronauts to feel the robot's interactions with objects. The project aims to develop technologies that will support astronauts in future missions to the Moon and Mars, enhancing their efficiency and safety by utilizing robotic assistance in extraterrestrial environments.
These advancements in human-robot collaboration are expected to play a crucial role in future space exploration, allowing astronauts to focus on exploration and discovery while robots handle routine tasks. The insights gained from the Surface Avatar experiments will be instrumental in planning and executing complex missions on the Moon and Mars.