What is the Fly Foundational Robotics (FFR) mission?

The FFR mission is focused on advancing robotic manipulation capabilities in low Earth orbit to support NASA's In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) objectives.

What role does PickNik Robotics play in the FFR mission?

PickNik Robotics provides its MoveIt Pro software for robot motion planning and arm control, supporting mission planning, simulation, and execution using Space ROS.

What is Space ROS and its relevance to the FFR mission?

Space ROS is a space-oriented distribution of the Robot Operating System used for the FFR mission, helping to align robotic systems with aerospace software standards for spaceflight.

Home / Technology / Robots Go Galactic: New Space Mission Takes Flight

Robots Go Galactic: New Space Mission Takes Flight

11 Feb

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Summary

Motiv and PickNik partner for NASA's robotic space mission.
Advanced robot arm software developed for orbital manipulation.
Space ROS powers new capabilities for in-space servicing.

Robots Go Galactic: New Space Mission Takes Flight

Motiv Space Systems has partnered with PickNik Robotics to advance NASA's Fly Foundational Robotics (FFR) mission. This collaboration focuses on enhancing robotic manipulation capabilities in low Earth orbit, directly supporting NASA's broader In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) objectives.

PickNik will contribute its MoveIt Pro commercial robotics platform to develop crucial software for motion planning and arm control. This technology will be utilized for mission planning, simulation, and executing robotic movements within the strict constraints of spaceflight operations. The mission will employ Space ROS, a specialized version of the Robot Operating System tailored for spaceflight.

This partnership involves delivering a flight-ready runtime configuration and a ground-based operator terminal. These tools will enable the mission team to thoroughly test and validate robotic behaviors through simulation and digital twin analysis before and during on-orbit operations.