Inspenet, July 26, 2023.
Tokyo-based startup Gitai is working on developing a small worm-like robot that can perform repairs in space and another robot designed to carry out tasks on the lunar surface .
The company founded by Sho Nakanose aims to build space robots capable of operating on various missions, including lunar soil sampling, and has managed to raise more than $47 million in capital funds from firms such as Daiwa Corporate Investment Venture Growth Fund, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital IX and Global Brain CVC Funds.
Living and working in space is expensive and dangerous for people. A manned flight to orbit or to the International Space Station can fetch $58 million per seat. In addition, space travel involves various risks for astronauts, such as radiation exposure that can increase the risk of cancer and affect the central nervous system, cause cognitive and motor problems, among others.
Sho Nakanose believes that robotic technology offers a cheaper and safer solution to explore space without putting human lives at risk. Their goal is to reduce space labor costs by 100 times by using robots, minimizing risks, and sending these devices into orbit instead of humans.
Space robots in development
The startup currently develops two products. The first is a 2-meter-long worm-like robotic arm that can move similar to the aforementioned animal and be equipped with various accessories such as electric drills, shovels, and robotic hands to perform various tasks. This technology could decrease the need for spacewalks by astronauts for maintenance or repair on spacecraft or space stations.
The second product is a go-kart-sized robotic lunar rover with a wide range. This rover has the ability to hover and operate on the surface of the Moon , which is relevant as NASA prepares to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon.
Demand for space robotics technology is on the rise, and according to Grand View Research analysis, the market is estimated to exceed $5 billion by the year 2027.
Such an increase is due to the need to carry out efficient repairs, services and maintenance on geostationary satellites. The report also highlights that cost effectiveness, increased productivity and the ability to operate in the extreme space environment are key factors driving demand for space robotics technology.
Despite the dominance of established companies in the area, Christopher Stott, an analyst at Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. suggests that Gitai’s technology has the potential to outperform its competition. Stott says that while MDA and Redwire are currently the leading providers of space robotics in the industry, Gitai could become a real competitor and achieve a similar position to SpaceX in terms of market share.
It should be noted that Gitai already has several clients in the space industry. Nakanose points out that the company can offer a lot to other companies in the sector, being a good partner to jointly reduce infrastructure, transportation and labor costs.
More about Gitai
In 2016, Sho Nakanose founded Gitai with the goal of developing more affordable robotic systems to assist in construction and maintenance in space.
In 2021, the company successfully conducted its first technology demonstration on the International Space Station with an autonomous space robot capable of replicating Moon exploration, construction, and spacecraft repair. For the year 2024, they have planned another technological demonstration outside the ISS. Gitai has also established partnerships with the Japanese space agency, Toyota, and other companies for future space missions.
In May, the company secured a $30 million Series B financing round and aims to use this capital to expand its operations in the United States, specifically at its Torrance, California location, and increase its manufacturing capacity.
According to Nakanose, the startup’s most significant project in the future involves developing robots to build solar panels, communication antennas, living modules and generators in space, as well as providing thousands of robots for the lunar surface.
“Our main focus will be to supply thousands of our robots to the lunar and martian surface to build various solar panels, communication antennas, housing modules and generators,” Nakanose said, noting that this project will be of great importance in the near future.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/indiarice/2023/07/18/this-startup-is-building-robots-that-aim-to-make-space-travel-safer-and-cheaper/ ?sh=632f5a846d10
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