Announcing our inclusion in the ANA-JAXA joint space program AVATAR X and the full-scale development of avatar robot MELTANT for space deployment
MELTIN MMI (Head office: Shinjuku, Tokyo, CEO: Masahiro Kasuya, hereinafter MELTIN) joined the Japan Aeronautical Exploration Agency (Chairman: Hiroshi Yamakawa, hereinafter JAXA) and ANA Holdings Inc. (CEO: Shinya Katanozaka, hereinafter ANA) in the planning and development of the AVATAR X program with the commencement of full-scale development on the MELTANT avatar robot for deployment in space.
Be it in space, on the moon’s surface, or on the surface of mars, long-distance remote control robots like MELTANT will protect astronauts from the dangers of space while lowering the high cost of space missions. It will bring about improvements in safety, efficiency, and cost effectiveness to contribute to the advancement of space technology and the creation of usable regions in space.
Substitute operations conducted with avatar robots hold the key to shortening the distance to space with AVATAR X
As part of ANA’s AVATAR project (press release: https://www.ana.co.jp/group/en/pr/201803/20180313.html ), the AVATAR X project is being undertaken jointly with JAXA to utilize AVATAR technology for the new development and usage of space. It aims to achieve this by shortening the distance to this difficult-to-access region by making it accessible to all. Avatar robots hold the key to succeeding in this endeavor. ( “AVATAR X Program” Website: https://avatarx.com/english.html )
Manned space missions present the high hurdle of sending astronauts into orbit. If remote-control avatar robots can be allied with human awareness, for example through real-time operation from a control room on Earth, it will be possible to replace astronauts in certain tasks. In other words, operators on Earth’s surface will be enabled to work in space.
Space operations come with enormous risks and the costs of protecting the lives astronauts and other inhabitants while in space are great. We expect that by substituting avatar robots for workers, space development can be pursued with increased safety and lower costs. Also, while astronauts can only feel the surface of the moon through their space suits, avatar robots makes it possible to touch the surface of the moon directly.
Whether at the space station, the moon’s surface, or the surface of Mars, the era of avatar robots operating in all space environments is about to start
MELTIN plans to operate avatar robot MELTANT in every type of environment in space, including in the space station or at bases on the moon or on Mars. The planned use cases are as follows:
- At the space station ( in low Earth orbit or while orbiting the moon )
– Supporting the lives of astronauts (by growing food, cooking, cleaning, etc.)
– Conducting scientific experiments
– Conducting all types of internal on-board maintenance
– Conducting external maintenance on the station
– Providing long-distance space experiences and more - In space hotels
– Assisting hotel operators with tasks (producing food, cooking, cleaning, etc.)
– Providing all types of service to hotel guests
– Conducting all types of internal on-board maintenance
– Conducting external maintenance on hotels
– Providing long-distance space experiences and more - Services in Orbit
– Constructing large-scale satellites and space probes in Earth’s orbit
– Refueling, servicing, and repairing satellites in Earth’ orbit - At a lunar base
– Building a base and doing maintenance
– Doing maintenance on rovers and all other types of other equipment
– Conducting dangerous operations in exposed environments outside of the base
– Supporting the lives of people living there (by growing food, cooking, cleaning, etc.)
– Providing long-distance medical care (diagnosis, treatment, surgery)
– Conducting scientific experiments
– Purifying water excavated from the moon’s surface
– Producing materials from regolith (the moon’s sand) using a 3D printer
– Providing long-distance moon experiences and more - At a Mars base
– Building a base and doing maintenance
– Conducting maintenance on rovers and every other type of other equipment
– Conducting dangerous operations in exposed environments outside of the base
– Providing long-distance medical care (diagnosis, treatment, surgery)
– Operating equipment in processing facilities using all types of materials excavated on-site
– Providing long-distance Mars experiences and more
* It is assumed actual long-distance operations on Mars will be conducted from a Mars orbiting station or Mars base
Because MELTANT’s hands are strong and flexible, it can replace people in various operations
It is difficult to automate every operation at the space station or at a lunar base, so in the future a portion of operations will require a human’s advanced judgment and task performance. In addition, all types of tools and mechanical interfaces have been designed for human operation, meaning any remote-controlled robot meant to replace humans in that environment will need abilities close to that of a human.
The MELTANT’s robot hands are the same size of a human hand and provide the same power, speed, freedom, and haptics. It can be controlled intuitively, enabling it to replace humans in many high-level operations in space. In the future, we will continue to prove its capabilities with repeated simulation field tests and make repeated improvements so that MELTANT can quickly be deployed to space.
We will exhibit MELTANT-αin a test field created to simulate space exploration on the surface of the moon and give a live demonstration of its remote controls
On September 10, at the AVATAR X Project Press Conference at JAXA’s Sagamihara Campus, we exhibited the concept robot MELTANT-α and give a demonstration.
In a field created to simulate space environments encountered on the surface of the moon, MELTANT-α will do provisional maintenance on a broken rover as if controlled remotely from Earth’s surface.
Introducing Avatar Robot MELTANT
The avatar robot MELTANT is equipped with the first robot hands in the world that combine strength and delicacy that have been called “the closest thing possible to a human hand,” allowing it to complete operations that require complex movements and flexibility that were impossible with previous robot hands.
MELTIN MMI
MELTIN MMI is a research and development venture that aims to create cyborg technologies that incorporate bio-signal processing and robotic technologies, allowing humans to transcend their physical forms and creating a world where humans can live happily and freely.
Loy Krathong Yotsuya 3F 1-18 Funamachi Shinjuku-ku Tokyo
Website: https://www.meltin.jp
Download: News Release（PDF/628KB）
[Inquiries]
Public Relations: Kawanabe
Tel: 03-6427-6397
E-Mail: inquiry@meltin.jp