Humanoid Robots for Moon and Mars

[JulesVerneATV]

a timeline from Elon Musk, the timetable may have changed

Elon Musk announced that an Optimus robot would be sent to Mars in 2026 onboard a SpaceX Starship rocket
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2g88y52y8o


Flight 12 and 13

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2015657360253960418
,
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/here-are-the-launches-and-landings-were-most-excited-about-in-2026/

the next are stated to be 'propellant transfer demonstration' and in Q4 of 2026 will go to Mars and deliver some experiments for the Italian space program

[catdlr]

Space Intelligence
@SpaceIntel101
This is so impressive on so many levels. I can hardly believe it is real!
The era of robots is upon us!

https://twitter.com/SpaceIntel101/status/2023432380808380763

[StraumliBlight]

https://x.com/SpaceIntel101/status/2023432380808380763

Dozens of G1 robots achieved the world’s first fully autonomous humanoid robot cluster Kung Fu performance (with quick movement), pushing motion limits and setting multiple world firsts! H2 made striking appearances at both the Beijing main venue and the Yiwu sub-venue, clad in the Monkey King’s heavy armor and riding a “somersault cloud” played by B2W quadruped robot dogs, delivering New Year blessings from the clouds.

[Cheapchips]

Unitree's progress over the last 12 months is astonishing, even if it is still 'dancing'.  It's a real confidence flex to have a fleet of robots pulling off those complex moves in a live show, amidst a bunch of child performers.

It is a little easier for the diminutive G1 to pull off acrobatics than an adult sized robot.  I expect all the robots will be the larger H2 next year.

[Twark_Main]

It's a real confidence flex to have a fleet of robots pulling off those complex moves in a live show, amidst a bunch of child performers.

I notice the robots never get too close to the child performers, especially when they're doing their more dynamic moves.

[sanman]

The interwoven choreography of robots & humans seems even more impressive than previous displays. They're definitely on an improvement curve here. It's nice that this has become an annual festive event, where they keep trying outdo the previous ones.

But was it purely scripted rehearsed choreography, or were the robot (camera) sensors in play here, to improve the safety & intricacy of movement?

[catdlr]

Li Zexin 李泽欣
@XH_Lee23
Unitree unveiled the behind-the-scenes training of the game-changing Kung Fu robots

Many world’s first high-difficult movements by Chinese robots:

• World’s first continuous freestyle table-flipping parkour

• World’s first catapult somersault, reaching over 3 meters in height

• World’s first continuous single-leg backflips and two-step wall kick backflip

• World’s first 7.5 full Airflare rotations

• World’s first rapid group positioning…

https://twitter.com/XH_Lee23/status/2023551029095416194

[JulesVerneATV]

Toyota Canada signs humanoid robot deal with Agility
https://www.automotivemanufacturingsolutions.com/automation/toyota-canada-signs-humanoid-robot-deal-with-agility/2611551
agreement struck between Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) and Agility Robotics

[Hop_David]

In 2010 Spudis and Lavoie had outlined an architecture for building a lunar base: Link

They called for gradual accumulation of robotic assets over time. The first robots sent to a lunar site would be scout and prospector bots. Then hauler bots and bots to establish power sources and build infrastructure. And permanent human arrival after robots had prepared a place for humans.

A lot in the paper is dated. But the notion of gradually building up robotic assets is still quite sound, in my opinion.

I expect most robots will be on wheels. Musk has already developed electric FSD vehicles. Some will have shovels. I expect there will be cranes, bull dozers, etc.

And I expect some robots will have hands. And legs. Construction bots would need to get across terrain that wheeled vehicles couldn't negotiate. So I would guess some of the the robots would be like Optimus to some extent.

Musk isn't above theatrics and spectacle. So it wouldn't surprise me if he landed humans on the moon before a base is established. But for the most part I am hoping he will go the Spudis route.

[Paul451]

Construction bots would need to get across terrain that wheeled vehicles couldn't negotiate.

Why?

[catdlr]

Lunar Outpost
@LunarOutpostInc
·
6h
Lunar Outpost's autonomous robotic rovers keep lunar construction, maintenance, and infrastructure deployment moving, with or without crew.

Purpose-built for sustained lunar operations, our rovers are:
• Efficient and cost-effective at scale
• Spaceflight-proven, with key systems and subsystems achieving TRL 9 on Lunar Voyage 1
• Radiation-resilient and lunar-dust-repellent
• Equipped to survive the long lunar night

Built to accelerate a Moon base for America.

https://twitter.com/LunarOutpostInc/status/2028524608014696490

[djellison]

Is there anything in the literature published somewhere that discusses the con-ops for bipedal robots on Mars?   I'm talking making the thermal story work, the energy story work?   I've done some searching but have come up blank.