China’s Tiangong Space Station is about to gain a new crew member: a helpful robot named Taikobot. Developed by the National University of Defence Technology, this humanoid robot will act as a station caretaker, assisting the human astronauts with everyday tasks.
After being tested in a replica of Tiangong on Earth, Taikobot is undergoing final checks before its official space debut. This 5-foot-5, 55-pound robot boasts a special feature: a dual-arm system with dexterous hands that mimic human movement, allowing it to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Advanced sensors and cameras keep Taikobot on track, while its human-like hands enable delicate operations.
While Taikobot can walk on Earth, it’s also designed for microgravity environments. Though still under development, such space-ready robots hold immense potential. During testing, Taikobot helped with tasks like equipment maintenance and handling tools.
“Experiments show Taikobot can perform simple, repetitive tasks alongside astronauts, potentially improving their onboard efficiency,” the development team noted.
While the exact launch date for Taikobot is undisclosed, it appears that Taikobot will not be the pioneer humanoid robot to venture into space. NASA’s Robonaut-2, which was sent out in 2011, came before it. However, following some technical malfunctions, Robonaut-2 was brought back for refurbishment in 2018. In a similar fashion, Russia’s Skybot F-850 paid a visit to the International Space Station in 2019.
It seems that robotic companions are indeed part of the future of space exploration: an assisting entourage of robots as missions grow more intricate and lengthy places robots such as Taikobot at an advantage. They can work ceaselessly — powered by solar energy — without life support systems that human astronauts need because they don’t tire out like humans do.
The team building these robotic assistants has concluded: we are partners with them in space and they help us extend our capabilities beyond earth. The idea underscores the thrilling potential of human-robot cooperation for space exploration.
