Bionics in Space!
Space exploration in our current society, especially by humans, is quite minimal. Scientists have yet to discover even a fraction of the possibilities that space incurs. Researchers continually seek out, and create, new technologies that will fund the knowledge of outer space to a greater understanding than we know it. Artificial intelligence among the cosmos may be just the answer to finding numerous unknowns throughout the universe. That is the reason scientists have been strategically working to expand our horizons through cyborg space expeditions. Manufactured with man made materials, these robotic machines, like Mars’ Rover, continue providing information to humans that we would never otherwise have discovered because they have the ability to venture into areas where humans do not have the ability to visit. Temperatures in the cosmos reach highs and lows that our fragile bodies cannot handle.
In 2013, NASA announced the launch of a new artificially intelligent robot, Valkyrie, with future intentions of studying the “Red Planet” using this astronomical, self-motivated tool. This cyborg, standing over six feet tall and weighing over 270 pounds, is an android astronaut with search and rescue capability. Created by the smartest minds in the scientific community, this robots’ limbs move similar to that of a humans which will help researchers study body motion on Mars. Although this is just a prototype, experts suggest that this type of technology will be forwarded to Mars as an attempt to make a way for human arrival.
Fantastic ideas about humans and cyborgs working in conjunction fuel the bright ideas behind the technology. Scientists believe this “iron man” will be extremely crucial in finding ways to allow our species to visit other terrestrial planets. This robot has the means to pick up tools, and manipulate them, with the ability to complete tasks under a one hour battery pack. Other interesting features on Valkyrie include a soft, clothes-like cover on the exterior along with interchangeable arms that can be replaced in an easy manner, as needed. Manufacturers of this product state that they gave Valkyrie a soft, clothes-like feel so that human astronauts working around the robots would feel as if they were working with other humans.
Space exploration has tore at the hearts of society since the first man walked on the moon. New and wonderful things are in the future with the help of these amazing machines. Ideas spawned into technology are lifting society’s knowledge of the vast universe surrounding our planet. Astronomers are discovering new information about the cosmos on a daily basis. Just recently NASA discovered hundreds of new planets outside our solar system, with a third of them being possible earth like planets. These terrestrial rocks are in just the right spot away from there sun where the possibility of life is definitely a factor that must be considered. Travel, by humans, to these places is too far in the future to even be pondered, however, with the help of artificially intelligent superheros like Valkyrie we may be discovering new and exciting things, sooner rather than later.
References:
- NEWS AU (2013). Nasa Unveils Superhero Robot Valkyrie. March 14, 2013,
http://www.foxnews.com - Dorrier, J. (2013). Nasa Unveils Valkrie. March 14, 2014,
http://www.singularityhub.com
By Tarra L. Rios
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