GITAI

GITAI is developing robots to work in range of space environments to free humans from performing dangerous tasks and reduce operational costs in space by up to 100 times.

Created: 2020-05-18

Updated: 2024-02-25

Company - GITAI

Founded
Country
2016
Japan
Funding
$113.6M
Website
GITAI
Social
GITAI

Product/Service - R1

Classification
Surface Spacecraft
Category
Space Robotics
Commercial Rover
Robotic Arm
Hardware
Fields
Robot Astronaut
Lunar Rover
Status
Development
First launch
2024

GITAI develops robots that can conduct tasks in all realms of space development, and cut down costs for operations by the Moon and Mars and construct space colonies.

Movement of human to the low-earth orbit space station, and task on the site are subject to quite high cost as well as to safety issues. GITAI challenge to reduce the cost ten times lower by replacing humans with robots for movements to the low-earth orbit space station and tasks in the site.

On-orbit demonstration mission for the company’s robotic technology, which will show its efficacy in performing in-space satellite servicing work. That mission is currently set to take place in 2023.

Space robotics startup GITAI will demonstrate the capabilities of their autonomous robot mounted external to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Nanoracks Bishop Airlock in 2023.

Demo of GITAI's Lunar Robotic Rover R1 at JAXA’s Mock Lunar Surface Environment.

GITAI develops inchworm-type robotic arm extending both the capability and mobility of space robots and completes Proof-of-Concept demonstration (TRL 3),

The GITAI lunar rover is slated to reach TRL 6 by the end of 2024 through various ground tests, according to Nakanose. He said the venture is in talks with several U.S. launch companies for a 2026 demonstration mission on the lunar surface, where its rover would attempt to assemble a communication antenna and solar panels, enabling it to reach TRL 7 or higher in what could potentially be a commercial mission.

GITAI will provide labor to build infrastructures at the surface of the Moon and Mars, reducing the labor cost in space by 100 times.

GITAI USA Secures DARPA LunA-10 Project

GITAI’s winning proposal revolves around a concept for the deployment of modular, multi-purpose Inchworm robots equipped with tool-changeable end effectors to conduct lunar surface labor. The robots are designed to handle various tasks, from construction to maintenance and adaptation, without unnecessary duplication.

Nanoracks – GITAI S2

Project GHOST: GITAI S2’s extraveHicular multi-Objective in-Space servicing Task demonstration.

Space-Proven GITAI Robotic Arms

GITAI provides IVR & EVR services for the International Space Station (ISS) and commercial space stations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). GITAI’s autonomous robotic arms with different lengths (1m, 1.5m, and 10m length), with “grapple end-effectors”, can be tailored to optimize the dexterity for required applications such as solar panel assembly, repetitive gearing, moving payload, and station modules, inspection & repairs, human EVA support, and spacecraft berthing support.

ISAM Services

The significance of ISAM (In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing) services is rapidly increasing. Recent commercial operations have extended the lifetime of satellites that are low on fuel, which support sustained economic activity and human presence in space. An autonomous robotic arm has an essential role during docking operations to a client object. Also, if the robotic arm has a tool-changing capability, it can conduct multiple tasks in one unit. GITAI has a full lineup of robotic arms from 1m to 10m, and every robotic arm has a tool changer to conduct various on-orbit servicing such as refueling, inspection, assembly, and manufacturing for satellites and any space object.

One example of our non-satellite services is space debris removal to protect space assets. This enables entities to maintain reliable satellite systems while avoiding disruptive satellite maneuvering or costly replacement. The below video shows a ground experiment of GITAI S2 for debris capture.

Rover / Space Permanence

The competition for lunar resource exploration and lunar base development is accelerating mainly in the U.S. and China, and the demand for robotic labor, which is safer and less costly than human astronauts, is rapidly increasing. In response to this growing demand, GITAI has developed the advanced lunar robotic rover “R1” that can perform general-purpose tasks on the moon such as exploration, mining, inspection, maintenance, assembly, etc. In December of 2021 at the mock lunar surface environment in JAXA’s Sagamihara Campus, the GITAI lunar robotic rover R1 conducted numerous tasks and mobility operations, successfully completing all planned tests. Here we release a digest video of the demonstration.

GITAI R1 is a four-legged, rolling robot with two arms and claw-like hands, two cameras for eyes, and multiple sensors. It is designed to perform general-purpose tasks on the moon such as exploration, mining, inspection, maintenance, assembly, etc. In 2022, R1 successfully completed all planned tests and mobility operations at the mock lunar surface environment in JAXA’s Sagamihara Campus.

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