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Robonaut 2 preps for trip to International Space Station

By | October 25, 2010, 2:06 PM PDT

Robonaut 2, also known as R2, is prepped to visit the International Space Station via NASA’s space shuttle Discovery.

For R2, a joint robot effort with General Motors and NASA, it’s the first trip into space to do real work. The R2 project began in 2007.

The launch, which was announced in April, is prepped for Nov. 1.

As previously noted, R2’s claim to fame is that it has the dexterity and hand sensitivity to take on a bevy of manufacturing tests. While NASA is using R2 in space, GM is hoping the development of the robot will help it with manufacturing and automotive technologies.

Related:

Meet R2: Your robotic coworker courtesy of NASA, GM

GM and NASA’s Robonaut 2 to move into international space station

[See more photos in an image gallery on SmartPlanet sister site ZDNet]

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Larry Dignan

About Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan is editor-in-chief of SmartPlanet.

Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan

Editor-in-Chief

Larry Dignan is editor-in-chief of SmartPlanet and ZDNet. He is also editorial director of TechRepublic. Previously, he was an editor at eWeek, Baseline and CNET News. He has written for WallStreetWeek.com, Inter@ctive Week, New York Times and Financial Planning. He holds degrees from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and the University of Delaware. He is based in New York but resides in Pennsylvania.

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Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan
Larry Dignan does not hold any investments in the companies he covers.
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