Space Robotics Engineering

DARPA Advances In-Orbit Space Construction with NOM4D Program A Major Leap Toward Autonomous Space Manufacturing The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has officially entered the testing phase of its NOM4D (Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design) program, marking a significant step toward building large-scale structures in space. This transition from lab-based experiments to small-scale orbital demonstrations signals a breakthrough in autonomous space construction. The NOM4D initiative, launched in 2022, is designed to overcome one of the biggest limitations in space infrastructure development—the size and weight constraints of rocket cargo fairings. Instead of launching pre-assembled or pre-folded structures, the program aims to: • Stow lightweight raw materials aboard rockets. • Assemble structures in space using autonomous robotic systems. • Construct larger, more efficient orbital platforms, beyond what current launch systems allow. A New Era of Space Expansion The NOM4D program is part of a broader shift in space technology, paving the way for: • Frequent orbital launches and lunar missions by 2030. • On-orbit refueling capabilities to extend spacecraft missions. • Autonomous robots assembling space stations and other critical infrastructure. This could radically reduce the cost and complexity of sending large structures into orbit, enabling more ambitious space missions, larger satellites, and permanent deep-space habitats. Why This Matters With private industry and government agencies accelerating space development, in-orbit construction could revolutionize: • Military and defense applications, allowing for rapid deployment of space assets. • Commercial space stations, supporting research, manufacturing, and tourism. • Lunar and Mars colonization, where raw materials could be extracted and assembled into habitable structures. The Future of Space Infrastructure By transitioning to real-world testing, DARPA is bringing us closer to a future where spacecraft, satellites, and even space habitats are built and expanded directly in orbit. The NOM4D program represents a critical step toward making large-scale space manufacturing a reality—one that could reshape how humanity builds in space for decades to come.

Meet Olympus, a four-legged robot developed and built by Jørgen Anker Olsen, visiting PhD researcher from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. When on ground, the robot moves around using its four ‘double’ legs – each one consists of two limbs with a bending joint, connected at the bottom in a paw-like patch. “One of the potential applications of robots like Olympus is the exploration of Mars,” explains Jørgen. “They could easily move around the planet’s surface, as well as venture beneath it, for example into the martian lava rubes – volcanic caverns that would be too high-risk for flying probes, like drones, to explore. “In addition, legged robots can jump over obstacles that would be too challenging for robots moving on wheels or tracks. In lower gravity, their jumping ability becomes an even bigger advantage, allowing them to jump much higher than they would on Earth.” This means that when moving around to explore a low-gravity planet or the Moon, legged robots could jump around similarly to astronauts during a lunar landing. Mounted upside down to a floating platform at ESA’s ORBIT facility, Olympus gets to experience simulated microgravity in two dimensions, allowing Jørgen to better understand how the robot would move under conditions it was created for: the gravity on Mars, which is about 2.5 times weaker than Earth’s gravity. The ORBIT facility is part of ESA’s Orbital Robotic Laboratory (ORL) located at ESTEC, the agency’s technical heart in the Netherlands. It consists of a 43 m2 ultra-flat floor – the height difference between its lowest and highest points is less than a millimetre. The facility operates similarly to an air hockey table – its testing platforms are equipped with air bearings, which create a stable air gap between the platforms and the floor. This air gap, thinner than a strand of hair and so hardly visible to the human eye, allows the platforms to move across the floor without any friction, reproducing the state of weightless free-floating in two dimensions. “The algorithm that makes Olympus move is trained using reinforcement learning – a machine learning method that works on the basis of trial and error. This means the robot controls its orientation autonomously,” Jørgen adds. When the platform rotates to face one direction, the robot tries to right itself with a swimming-like motion, using a technique it has identifies as the best one during simulations. “This configuration, with Olympus attached to one of ORBIT’s floating platforms, allows us to test the legs’ full range of motion. During one of the testing setups, Olympus was even able to move from wall to wall, reorienting itself after each jump to always land on all four ‘feet’.” #ESA #Mars #Olympus The four-legged robot Olympus on ESA’s Mars yard. (ESA)

Breaking Space News 🚨 India’s First Space robotic arm in Action aboard POEM4. India says hi to them domain of Space robotics today. On wards and Upwards! Relocatable Robotic Manipulator-TD (RRM-TD) is Developed by ISRO-IISU RRM-TD aka Walking Robotic Arm is a technology demonstrator for the type of robotic arms that will be used on the Bharatiya Antariksh Station to help with its construction and maintenance. The specialty of this type of robotic arm is that it has the ability to relocate itself along the body of its parent spacecraft by "walking" end-over-end, similar to how an inchworm or leech moves, and grabbing onto fixed grappling points and re-routing power & data connections

Caltech engineers have introduced ATMO (Aerially Transforming Morphobot), a groundbreaking robot that shifts mid-air from a flying drone to a wheeled rover. Advancing their earlier M4 model, ATMO addresses the challenge of seamless transitions on real-world terrain. Unlike other hybrid robots, it folds its propeller-wheels downward before landing, enabling stable “dynamic wheel landings” on uneven surfaces. A central motor and joint system, paired with an advanced algorithm, adjusts propeller thrust in real-time for flight stability, while belt drives and differential steering power its rover mode. Published in Communications Engineering, this innovation could transform exploration, search and rescue, and planetary missions by enhancing multi-modal robotics. #Robot #airobots #Robots #ATMO #TransformingRobot #CaltechInnovation #MultiModalRobotics

BREAKING NEWS: 🇯🇵 Japan Successfully Tests Space Robots That Assemble Structures in Orbit Japan has successfully tested autonomous space robots capable of assembling large structures directly in orbit. Instead of launching fully built spacecraft, these robots piece together components in space with millimeter precision. The robots use AI-driven coordination to adapt to microgravity and unexpected motion. During testing, they successfully assembled modular structures while correcting alignment errors in real time. This could dramatically reduce launch costs and enable the construction of massive space telescopes, habitats, and power stations. Engineers say this technology is essential for long-term human activity beyond Earth. It marks a major step toward sustainable space infrastructure.

When robots start building for worlds beyond our own. @GITAI_HQ has just demonstrated something remarkable: two autonomous robots cooperatively assembling a 5-meter tower — a foundational step toward future off-world habitats on the Moon or Mars. What makes this so significant isn’t just the height of the structure. It’s the autonomy. No constant teleoperation. No step-by-step manual control. Just robots planning, coordinating, and executing a construction task in a way that once required human teams. This is exactly the technological leap space exploration needed: the fusion of advanced robotics + AI-driven decision-making. Why it matters: ✅ Future habitats must be built before humans arrive ✅ Robotic crews reduce risk and mission cost ✅ AI-driven cooperation enables complex assembly in extreme environments ✅ This sets the stage for scalable off-world infrastructure We’ve talked for decades about robots preparing extraterrestrial bases. Now we’re beginning to see it — not in theory, but in action. If robots can build towers today, habitats tomorrow look a lot more real. What’s the next milestone you expect in autonomous space construction? #SpaceTech #Robotics #AI #GITAI #FutureOfSpace #AutonomousSystems #Innovation Source 🙏 @GITAI_HQ

DARPA Redefines Space Construction with Autonomous Robots Space exploration is about to get a major upgrade. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is gearing up to test orbital construction through its Novel Orbital Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design (NOM4D) program, launched in 2022. Forget bulky, pre-built components constrained by rocket size—DARPA’s goal is to assemble large, lightweight structures directly in space. Now, in early 2025, NOM4D’s third phase is moving from labs to orbit, with demonstrations slated for 2026 spotlighting a revolutionary technology: autonomous robotic assembly. Orbital Tests Take Shape Two university teams are leading the charge. The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) will send a free-flying robot aboard a Momentus Vigoride vehicle, launched via SpaceX Falcon 9, to autonomously build a 1.4-meter truss in low-Earth orbit. Meanwhile, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will test frontal polymerization—a method to harden composites in space without heavy equipment—aboard the International Space Station. These experiments aim to show that massive structures like antennas, solar arrays, or refueling stations can be crafted efficiently beyond Earth, unshackling design from launch limitations. How Autonomous Robotic Assembly Works Caltech’s test hinges on autonomous robotic assembly: robots building complex frameworks without human oversight. Imagine a robotic system with arms and sensors, floating in microgravity, guided by onboard intelligence. It scans its surroundings with cameras or lasers, plans each move with precision, and uses mechanical arms to connect parts—often within razor-thin tolerances. If a piece shifts mid-process, the robot adapts instantly. In orbit, this could mean turning compact materials into a sturdy truss, all hundreds of miles above Earth, no Earthside controller required. Why It’s a Game-Changer Rockets can’t haul giant structures, but they can carry raw materials. Autonomous assembly is like shipping IKEA flat-packs instead of a fully built desk—only the desk builds itself. This unlocks possibilities like sprawling solar panels for satellites, deep-space antennas, or orbital fuel depots, all constructed where they’re needed. For DARPA, it’s a strategic edge; for commercial space, it’s a blueprint for lunar bases or asteroid mining hubs. Faster, cheaper, and more adaptable, this tech could redefine space infrastructure. Looking to the Stars As February 24, 2025, ticks closer to these 2026 trials, anticipation builds. Caltech’s truss and UIUC’s material tests are small steps with big potential—proofs of concept that could scale up dramatically. If NOM4D succeeds, DARPA may not just transform how we build in space but where we dream humanity’s future lies: out there, with robots paving the way. https://lnkd.in/eZwet6Va UI Urbana-Champaign