The Future of Space Construction Could Be Revolutionized by a Robot

Thanks to the new walking space robot, large construction projects in space can be one step closer to reality.

Researchers have designed the E-Walker, a cutting-edge walking robot, to take on the massive task of space construction. A robot prototype has already been tested on Earth by mounting the 25m Wide Aperture Space Telescope.

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Will Space Construction Task Be Given to Robots?

A smaller scale prototype of the same robot has also been created, doubling its potential tasks. It shows promise for major construction applications such as the maintenance of wind turbines around the world.

Construction in space is among the topics that have been on the agenda of countries for a while. For example, China and Russia want to build a Moon base. Space cement is now readily available and can be used for construction projects on planets such as the Moon and Mars.

Large construction projects are more difficult to construct, maintain, and service than in space, with the exception of potentially deep-ocean projects. Conditions are extreme and man-made technology is deteriorating faster there.

This is where robotics and autonomous systems come into play. They have already proven useful for service and maintenance missions. They have also helped the space community conduct groundbreaking research on various space missions.

Manu Nair, PhD candidate at Lincoln University, said:

In their paper, Nair and colleagues introduce an innovative, ingenious walking robotic system that can be used for in-orbit assembly tasks.

As space missions continue to evolve and push new boundaries, so do maintenance and construction projects. Space agencies and companies have produced larger and more complex projects such as the James Webb Space Telescope.