Russian Space Robotics (Android FEDOR)

Progress in neural sciences has led to the creation of algorithms applied for machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Combined with advancements in electronics and robotics the new generation of robots is getting more autonomous compared to their predecessors. As a result, their application in various fields of human activities is constantly broadening. Space exploration is one of such fields where robotics allows reducing the risks of health hazards and/or accidental loss of human lives; reducing space mission costs associated with expensive human life support systems and increasing comfort for mission operators. These are the motivations for increasing the number of applications of robotics in space exploration.

Since 2012 there has been a number of android robot-astronaut missions.

NASA pioneered the application with its Robonaut-2 android shown in Fig. 1. Then the Japanese flew their Kirobo android, shown in Fig. 2, to the ISS. Following NASA’s lead (because Kirobo is rather a talking toy) in 2019 Roscosmos carried a 17-day mission in which unmanned Soyuz MS-14 was “crewed” by a FEDOR android robot-astronaut, shown in Fig. 3. This report is a review of the Russian FEDOR android project.  

FEDOR is a Russian humanoid robot (android) that replicates the movements of a remote operator and can perform some actions autonomously. FEDOR is an acronym for Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research. In the Russian language FEDOR is pronounced as a typical Russian male name Fyodor or Feodor (in Russian: Фёдор).  

FEDOR is one of the projects of the Russian Advanced Research Foundation in cooperation with NPO “Android Technology” for the customer - Russian Emergencies Ministry (MCHS). It is planned that this robot will be mass-produced and will serve a range of industries: it will be able to pull people out from under the rubble of buildings and even fly into space. At present FEDOR meets all the requirements of the technical specifications of the MCHS, in particular, the ability to open a door with a key or using a fire extinguisher. Further development of the robot will depend, among other things, on customers’ needs in this technology.