A joint research project between NASA and five universities aims to prepare a robotic dog for future space missions by teaching it to navigate difficult and changing terrains. The robot dog named Spirit has been trained on lunar terrain in the rugged environment of Mount Hood in Oregon, USA as part of the LASSIE project.
Researchers are focused on teaching Spirit to adapt to challenging terrains like hard, rocky, soft, snowy, or sandy ground. The robot dog uses its mechanical legs to recognize changes in the terrain with each step it takes. The project, which involves five universities and NASA, has received a $2 million grant to assist NASA in developing robotic rovers for lunar missions.
The ultimate goal is to have humans and robots collaborating on future space missions to the Moon. As space exploration advances, the partnership between humans and robots is expected to play a vital role in accomplishing mission objectives.
