Japanese Consortium Projects a Humanoid Robot On the Moon By 2015

JoshuaInNippon writes "A Japanese manufacturing cooperative named Astro-Technology SOHLA announced on April 27th that they are planning to create and send a two-legged humanoid robot to the moon, have it draw the Japanese flag on the surface, and hopefully then get it to return to the Earth, all by the year 2015. The group wants to inspire people, particularly in Japan, about space and generate confidence among SMEs to create low-cost space technology. While the idea may seem far-fetched to some, SOHLA had success in building a small low-cost satellite named Maido-1, which was launched into space aboard a Japanese H-IIA rocket in early 2009. The group also commented that they want to have their future humanoid robot hitch a ride to the moon with a surveying rover that JAXA is building."

Comments

And What Will It Do?

[WrongSizeGlass]

Will it be able to hit golfballs like the earlier astronauts? Will it plant a flag? Hell, will it even be able to right itself or free itself from its restraints once it 'lands'?

If they just want to lose a robot, they should send it down the Jersey Turnpike and see how it does in the truck lanes.

Why 2-legged?

[Grishnakh]

Honestly, this push for 2-legged robots seems pretty silly, and the only reason it's done is because they look more like us. A 4-legged or even 6-legged robot would make far more sense. 4 legs are much more stable than 2, and easier to walk on. If pickup up and handling objects is a concern, then 6 legs is a good alternative. Many insects work this way, after all. Praying mantises are a good example: they have six legs, and use the front two for grasping. For extra stability on rough terrain (which certainly describes the moon), the front legs can be dual-purpose, used for both walking about grasping.

Re:Why 2-legged?

[BJ_Covert_Action]

Or, you know, they could just use wheels like other, very successful robotic explorers....Legs are complicated.

Re:Why 2-legged?

[natehoy]

So, waa-a-a-ait, you're saying four legs good, two legs baa-aa-aad?

Re:Why 2-legged?

[Mindcontrolled]

All true, but when, if you get the humanoid robot right, it can't just use the vacuum cleaner, it can mop the floor, clean the toilet, cook dinner, change lightbulbs, and do basically everything needed in my household, whatever task is around. The roomba will still work great vacuuming the floor, but it'll sit pathetically in its corner, whining sadly while the humanoid bot outclasses him in every other task. I agree though, that we are not remotely at this point. Given that, it is little more than a publicity stunt to put a bipedal on the moon. That doesn't mean, however, that we should not continue researching humanoid robots - or, let me rephrase that, multipurpose robots able to use any tool you throw at them. The main problem is not the number of legs, heck, let it be quadruped - the main problem to solve is the dexterity. For true tool-using multipurpose robots, it would probably be best to give them highly dexterous hands and flexible arms. There's been a lot of success in that field lately - just look at this video.

Flag planting as proof of ownership or visitation

[networkzombie]

Flag planting by proxy? Will the robot then walk over to the U.S. flag and tear it down?

Re:Flag planting as proof of ownership or visitati

[bugnuts]

The whole "draw a flag" thing I consider to be the same as vandals tagging walls.

As long as it can only be seen with a really high-power telescope, I guess I don't care a lot. But it's still vandalism, and very distasteful.

Imagine if corporations could simply buy moon advertisements.... We'd be seeing crap like [KRAFT CHEESE] and other crap. The original footprints from the astronauts are still there 50 years later.