Latest From Shadow: Shadow Hand & Glove For Dexterous Manipulation read about it here. .

Space Robotics

Safer and More Sustainable Space Exploration

  • Safeguard astronauts
  • Improve productivity
  • More sustainable practices
  • Reduce costs

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We’ve sold our Dexterous Hand to NASA and ESA as a research tool and have since focussed on innovative teleoperation solutions for the Space industry. So now you can carry out tasks by using our robot Hands from afar without having to be there physically.

Possibilities

Popular Research Topics

  • Clear up the estimated 8000 tonnes of space debris and de-orbit outdated material.
  • Repair, refuel or even take a retired satellite out of orbit.
  • Offer in-space assembly to build space structures and save high costs of construction.
  • Administer medical care to wounded crewmembers in space.
  • Touching your loved ones from space and “feel” the sensation during lengthy space missions.

Case study

NASA and ESA

Our connections with space go back over a decade ago when researchers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC), in collaboration with General Motors and Oceaneering placed an order for our Shadow Dexterous Hand with tactile sensing. The Hand inspired NASA’s own Robonaut development and experiment with Robonaut 2 (R2)

Proof of concept

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and All Nippon Airways (ANA)

We’re in talks with JAXA and Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA), to collaborate on one of the most ambitious space missions in development. The forward-looking Avatar X project aims to develop avatar technology for space exploration and colonisation.

Proof of concept

UK Space Conference (UKSC)

The UK Space Conference is the primary space sector and industry event in the UK. Shadow in collaboration with the Future AI and Robotics for Space (FAIR Space) Hub exhibited in the Innovation Zone of UKSC and spoke with UK astronaut Tim Peake.

In collaboration with the team at the University of Surrey, we showcased how an autonomous orbital robot could grasp the engine nozzle (apogee kick motor) of an orbital target. The whole process took under 0.2 seconds – faster than human reaction time! Read more about our demo here.

Testimonials

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

Shadow is the most advanced dextrous robot hand that I have seen. Being able to manipulate and impact a remote environment is critical for space applications – it’s not that useful to just exist in space without any ability to turn knobs, flip switches and perform experiments. That’s why we believe their technology has high synergy with space-based avatar applications

Kevin Kajitani, Co-Director of Avatar Division at ANA Holdings

UK Space Conference (UKSC)

Shadow Hand’s unique dexterity open up new possibilities in the novel and under-explored field of robotic grasping for space applications

UKSC

Reach out if you’d like to discuss more around our remote teleoperation systems in space scenarios or if you’re interested in using our robot Hand for space research.

We’d be more than happy to show you a demo too.

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