Robotic assets with human-levels of strength and dexterity, such as Robonaut 2, Valkyrie, and to some extent, ATHLETE, have been of increasing interest to NASA. Development of the proposed VLCA technology can augment the performance capabilities of future such systems. These robots will be able to work alongside astronauts, will alleviate astronauts from mundane and time consuming tasks, will be capable of semi-autonomous mobility over unstructured terrain on other planets, will have the strength to carry significant payloads, and will have manipulation capabilities to construct scientific outposts and human dwellings.
Any commercial application that relies on hydraulic actuation could potentially be a market for VLCA technology. Its high payload and mechanical robustness enables it to perform well in many of the same application domains. Its increased efficiency and safety are technology benefits that could be exploited to replace hydraulic machines. Example industries include disaster response robotics, construction, rehabilitation and tactical exoskeletons, scouting and exploration, industrial automation, oil and gas.
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