LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / November 4, 2023 / UK-based Asteroid Mining Corporation (AMC) unveils the Space Capable Asteroid Robotic Explorer (SCAR-E) in the US, Japan and South Korea.
SCAR-E, a six-legged, walking, climbing rover was first unveiled at the October 2023 Economist Space Summit in Los Angeles, before touring Japan and South Korea. Equipped with specialised gripping technology, SCAR-E is designed to navigate challenging environments, ranging from caves and tunnels to the rugged terrain of an asteroid.
SCAR-E was developed by AMC's Head of Surface Exploration, Professor Mickael Laine, in partnership with Tohoku University's Space Robotics Lab (which is overseen by pre-eminent Japanese space roboticist Professor Kazuya Yoshida).
The robot has unique capabilities that support a variety of use cases, both on and off Earth. In this initial phase of development, AMC is focussed on increasing efficiency and prioritising human safety in a broad range of hostile work environments from industrial inspection, to search and rescue and nuclear decommissioning.
"We've found that there are endless uses for SCAR-E here on earth, from industrial inspections to nuclear decommissioning," said CEO and Founder Mitch Hunter Scullion. "We're offering SCAR-E robots to high-risk industries where injuries and fatalities are common. When in doubt, send a robot."
AMC expects to launch a SCAR-E to the Moon by 2028, with the first space testing commencing by 2026. This next generation of rovers will be customised to complete prolonged missions into deep space with minimal human supervision, relying on swarm intelligence to communicate and work collectively. On these missions, the autonomous robots will be tasked with retrieving lunar and asteroid samples and resource prospecting near-Earth asteroids for minerals.
Whilst SCAR-E remains in the early phases of development, AMC expects to open sales for SCAR-E units in the research robotics market by the end of the year, having recently made their first pre-sale of the robot to the University of Luxembourg. Research models, fitted with six gripping claws and carbon-fibre plastic armour, will be available for sale from Q1 next year, while industrial models will go on pre-sale in Q3 2024.
At present, the fully functioning prototype has taken its first tentative steps: "Programming SCAR-E is like teaching a toddler to walk," said Mitch. "But a toddler only has two legs. Imagine having six."
Quotes
"When it comes to space exploration, we've decided to reinvent the wheel. Walking, climbing robots are the future of lunar and asteroid missions. They allow us to reach new terrains which have, until now, been totally inaccessible to humans. We're stretching the limit of how far we can reach into space, and more importantly, what we can bring back with us." Mitch Hunter Scullion
Background
Asteroid Mining Corporation (AMC) is a London-based tech start-up founded by CEO Mitch Hunter Scullion in March 2016. Headquartered in Canary Wharf, with a research lab in Sendai, Japan, AMC develops space-capable robots with Earth-based applications.
Professor Mickael Laine, the Designer and Chief Engineer of SCAR-E, is Head of Surface Exploration at AMC and Assistant Professor at the Space Robotics Lab of Tohoku University. Professor Laine received his PhD in aerospace engineering and space exploration micro-robotics. He specialises in large-scale multi-robot autonomous exploration strategies for resource prospecting on the lunar surface. Since late 2020, he has led the robotics division of AMC in Sendai, Japan.
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Website URL: https://asteroidminingcorporation.co.uk
Webmail: [email protected]
Person Contact name: Mitch Hunter-Scullion
Company name: Asteroid Mining Corporation Ltd
SOURCE: Asteroid Mining Corporation Ltd