SpecWERX, NASA and Colorado AIA Engage Company

PickNik Robotics has won a SpaceWERX contract for robotics for the US Space Force (USSF), a NASA contract for supervised autonomy for space robotics and a Colorado Advanced Industries Accelerator (AIA) grant for space robotics, the company announced on 25 October. “These three wins provide additional validation of our work in space robotics, a major focus area for our company,” explained CEO, Dr Dave Coleman.

TheSpaceWERX contract calls on the company to help develop enhanced control for on-orbit capture of space assets, and to increase the overall efficiency and safety of USSF operations. The work will focus on capturing and manipulating objects in orbit using robotic arms for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM). The Nuclear and Applied Robotics Group at the University of Texas, Austin, is collaborating with PickNik on the project. The company’s MoveIt Space software, evolved working alongside NASA’s Robonaut team, will facilitate Earth-based operators coordinating autonomous robots in both intravehicular and extravehicular activity.

The NASA contract will further advance the company’s work on supervised autonomy. PickNik will develop machine learning models enabling operators to use high-level instructions to direct a robot to perform a variety of tasks, including opening station module doors, cabinets, and drawers, as well as interact with other objects such as valves, buttons, and switches.

Colorado’s AIA programme was created in 2013 to promote growth and sustainability in Colorado’s advanced industries by driving innovation, accelerating commercialisation, encouraging public-private partnerships, increasing access to early-stage capital, and creating a strong ecosystem that increases the state’s global competitiveness.

“It is vitally important to enhance safety and lower the cost of spaceflight through robotics, and these three wins will enable us to support that endeavor,” stated Dr Mark Moll, Director of Research at PickNik. “Along with our MoveIt Space and MoveIt Studio software, we have more than 40 people at PickNik Robotics, with 363 years of combined robotics experience, who are ready to help organizations of all kinds embrace the massive opportunity in space.”