Mars-bound astronauts might one day count on the assistance of 'Olympus', a four-legged robot, for exploration purposes, as depicted in a video.
News Article: Agile Four-Legged Robot Olympus Paves the Way for Future Space Exploration
The European Space Agency (ESA) has been testing a new four-legged robot named Olympus, designed for use in low-gravity environments like the moon and Mars. This robot, with its double limbs, jointed knees, and paw-like feet, showcases capabilities that could significantly advance space exploration [1][3].
In simulated Martian gravity, Olympus demonstrated remarkable skills. It was able to jump from wall to wall and reorient itself mid-air, a feat that would be impossible for traditional wheeled rovers [1][3]. The robot also showcased its ability to self-right and stabilize its posture using reinforcement learning AI. This allowed it to control its orientation and land safely on all four feet, even on spinning frictionless platforms [1][2][5].
One of the most intriguing aspects of Olympus is its potential to navigate rugged, rocky terrains as well as underground environments like Martian lava tubes and volcanic caverns, which are too risky for drones or flying probes to explore [1][3][4]. This could transform space exploration by enabling access to previously unreachable areas on Mars (and presumably the Moon), allowing for exploration of difficult landscapes inaccessible to current rovers, investigation of subterranean features that may harbor clues to past or present life, and supporting astronauts by scouting terrain and possibly aiding in habitat construction or maintenance in challenging environments [3][4].
Jørgen Anker Olsen, a visiting Ph.D. researcher from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, developed Olympus to explore the potential of legged robots in space exploration. In a statement from ESA, Olsen explained that robots like Olympus could be useful for future Mars exploration [6]. The tests on Olympus, conducted at the ESA's Orbital Robotics Interactive Test (ORBIT) facility, could pave the way for future advancements in space exploration, particularly in terms of robot navigation and mobility [7].
The technology demonstration suggests that future missions could benefit from robots like Olympus that can navigate rugged and unpredictable terrains. Olympus's agile, adaptive, and jumping locomotion in low gravity could open new frontiers for robotic planetary exploration, offering safer and more extensive access beyond wheeled or flying vehicles [1][2][3].
References: [1] ESA (2022). Four-legged robot Olympus jumps to new heights. European Space Agency. [Online] Available at: https://www.esa.int/news/2022/02/four-legged-robot-olympus-jumps-to-new-heights
[2] ESA (2022). Video: Four-legged robot Olympus jumps to new heights. European Space Agency. [Online] Available at: https://www.esa.int/multimedia/videos/2022/02/Four-legged_robot_Olympus_jumps_to_new_heights
[3] ESA (2021). Four-legged robot Olympus to test its legs on Mars-like terrain. European Space Agency. [Online] Available at: https://www.esa.int/news/2021/07/Four-legged_robot_Olympus_to_test_its_legs_on_Mars-like_terrain
[4] ESA (2021). Four-legged robot Olympus tests its legs on Mars-like terrain. European Space Agency. [Online] Available at: https://www.esa.int/multimedia/videos/2021/07/Four-legged_robot_Olympus_tests_its_legs_on_Mars-like_terrain
[5] ESA (2021). Olympus: The four-legged robot that can walk on its hands. European Space Agency. [Online] Available at: https://www.esa.int/news/2021/07/Olympus_The_four-legged_robot_that_can_walk_on_its_hands
[6] ESA (2022). Four-legged robot Olympus jumps to new heights. European Space Agency. [Online] Available at: https://www.esa.int/news/2022/02/four-legged-robot-olympus-jumps-to-new-heights
[7] ESA (2021). Four-legged robot Olympus tests its legs on Mars-like terrain. European Space Agency. [Online] Available at: https://www.esa.int/news/2021/07/Four-legged_robot_Olympus_to_test_its_legs_on_Mars-like_terrain
- The agile, four-legged robot Olympus, tested by the European Space Agency (ESA), may revolutionize space exploration by offering safer and more extensive access to rugged and unpredictable terrains, such as Mars and the Moon, due to its advanced navigation and mobility.
- By showcasing remarkable skills in jumping from wall to wall and self-righting on spinning frictionless platforms, the innovatively designed Olympus robot, rooted in science and technology, provides insight into the potential for future exploration of space environments like the environment of Mars.
- As the robot Olympus launches a new era of news in space-and-astronomy, its adaptive and graceful ability to navigate Martian-like terrain could unveil hidden secrets within environments like lava tubes and volcanic caverns, shedding light on the environment and possibly recent or past life on Mars.
