Chinese humanoid robot maker EngineAI has announced plans to send its PM01 humanoid robot into space, in collaboration with a Beijing-based commercial spaceflight company. If the plan is implemented, it will be the first humanoid robot to be sent into space.
The partnership was officially announced on January 26, and according to available information, the goal of the project is to test robots in extreme conditions that prevail outside Earth. According to the company, space missions represent an extremely demanding environment for robots due to limited gravity, large temperature differences and the need for a high degree of autonomous decision-making.
Humanoid robots as substitutes for humans in risky missions
EngineAI says it will work with partners to improve the reliability of the PM01 robot and its ability to perform tasks in space. The company believes that humanoid robots can outperform humans in certain situations or at least significantly reduce the risk to human crews.
Such tasks include external maintenance of space stations, exploration of dangerous or inaccessible areas, and long-duration surveillance missions where human presence is costly or risky.
The PM01 robot is 1.38 meters tall and weighs around 40 kilograms. It is intended for research projects that combine humanoid movement with advanced robotic intelligence. It is equipped with a central screen for interaction, a bionic structure that mimics human movements, as well as a waist that can rotate up to 320 degrees.
In June last year, EngineAI also launched a lighter commercial version of this robot, called the PM01 JD Joy Inside, which is sold through the JD.com platform at a price of around $27,000.
The company attracted both public attention and some skepticism in December after it released a promotional video of its T800 humanoid robot performing physical demonstrations, including smashing doors, punching and knocking down the company’s founder during simulated sparring.
Sending the PM01 robot into space represents a new step in China’s ambitions in the field of robotics and space technologies, but also a potential precedent for future missions in which humanoid robots take on key and risky roles, reports VNExpress.