JAKARTA - The space technology race is entering a new phase. No longer just rockets and astronauts, AI-based autonomous robots are now being tested directly in orbit - and the results could change the way humans work in space forever.
Aerospace technology company Voyager Technologies has teamed up with robotics startup Icarus Robotics to test a free-floating robot on the International Space Station (ISS), according to an official statement from the two companies on Monday, March 30.
The robot, called "Joyride", is designed to move autonomously in a manned station, with the test focused on its performance in microgravity conditions - an environment that has been a major challenge in the development of intelligent robots.
The Road to AI in Orbit
This step is in line with NASA's push to expand the role of the private sector in low Earth orbit, especially ahead of the ISS's planned retirement in 2030.
Behind this project, there is a greater ambition: to build an AI system that is truly "alive" in space. Data from this mission will be used to train artificial intelligence models to be able to operate robots independently in extreme environments.
"To create a strong AI system, the first step is to bring the hardware to the actual environment. Space has the highest barriers, no simulator can replace it," said Jamie Palmer.
In this cooperation, Voyager will be responsible for preparing the robot for flight, taking care of safety approvals, arranging the launch, and supporting operations on the ISS.
Robots like Joyride are projected to have a strategic role in the future. From satellite inspection and repair, to assisting routine activities at space stations, to managing orbital infrastructure such as data centers.
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