NASA and GM to Create New-Generation Humanoid Space Robot

NASA teamed up with General Motors to create new type of robots to serve two main goals - help astronauts and make vehicles. The Robonaut 2 (R2) is quicker, more skillful and technologically outruns robots developed before.

According to Mike Coats, director of the Johnson Space Center, the main idea is to create machines that would help humans explore space and help in the construction field.

Alan Taub, GM's vice president for global research and development, said that for the American automaker such robots would help create safer cars and more secure and technologically advanced plants.

The first version of the robot, Robonaut, was a humanoid robot built 10 years ago for space travel. The second generation robot is more dexterous and much stronger, being able to lift 20lb weight at arm's length, which, according to NASA, by four times exceed the weight other dexterous robots were able to lift.

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