NASA Partners with PickNik Robotics to Develop Software for Lunar Missions and Commercial Applications
NASA and Boulder-based robotics company PickNik Inc. have successfully tested advanced robotic control software capable of performing complex tasks like opening hatches and transferring cargo, with applications for future Artemis lunar missions. The software, called MoveIt Pro, was developed with early NASA funding through the Small Business Innovation Research program and has since found commercial use in automotive assembly, modular housing construction, and robotic cleaning. The partnership demonstrates how space technology investments can yield dual benefits for both deep-space exploration and Earth-based industries.
NASA and PickNik Inc. have demonstrated robotic control software capable of performing autonomous tasks essential for long-term lunar operations. In tests at NASA's Johnson Space Center, the software enabled a robotic arm to recognize a spacecraft hatch, manipulate its latch, grasp the handle, open the door, and transfer cargo bags between a hatch and storage bin. The software, MoveIt Pro, was commercially released in 2023 after years of development supported by NASA's Small Business Innovation Research program. Beyond space applications, the software has been adopted by BMW for robotic assembly lines, Lightspeed for constructing modular housing panels, and Hivebotics for automating cleaning robots. According to PickNik's principal software engineer, the 35-person company credits NASA's early investment with enabling the foundational research necessary to bring the product to market, illustrating NASA's broader mission of technology transfer to commercial industries.
What different sources said
- NASACenter
NASA Equips Astronauts, Industry with Robotic Intelligence
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