Robot Hand Pushes China Closer To Space

DRAGON SPACE

Robot Pushes China Closer To Space

File Photo: A Chinese military officer gives orders to a robot at an exhibition in Beijing Feb 27 2001. The exhibition showcased achievements by Chinese scientists under the national 863 project set up in 1986 to compete with the West. AFP Photo

Harbin - Jan 17, 2002
Chinese researchers said they have engineered a hand, as deft as a human's, for a space robot which will soon be sent into space as a prelude to the country's first manned space mission.

It marked a breakthrough in China's efforts to develop space robots, which will explore the lunar surface before Chinese astronauts set foot on the moon, according to a leading space robot researcher.

"With the deft hand, the robot may replace astronauts to conduct some difficult and dangerous operations outside the space capsule," said its developer Liu Hong, a professor with the Harbin Polytechnic University in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The robot hand, as large as a human hand, has four fingers, and each finger has four joints on it. It is equipped with 96 multifunctional sensors, 12 motors and a computer.

Under the remote control of researcher, the robot hand can lift objects weighing 10 kilograms on earth and can use spanners, screwdrivers and other tools.

"It can even play piano," said Liu, adding that the mechanical hand also has wide applications here on earth.

"Breakthroughs have been made in many key technologies of space robots," said Liang Bin, deputy director of China's first space robot research center in Beijing, "The space robot will be sent aloft very soon."

Countries including the United States, Japan and Russia have developed space robots. The gap between China and the countries in space robot technology has been greatly narrowed, researchers said.

The State Aerospace Bureau has confirmed that China will explore the moon and will actively participate in the international exploration of Mars after it becomes only the third nation on earth to launch humans into space.

All rights reserved. � 2002 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.

DRAGON SPACE

Chinese Space Workers Celebrate Their Labour To Launch Shenzhou

Beijing - Jan 9, 2002
The third unmanned test flight of the Shenzhou ("Magic Vessel" or "Divine Vessel") spacecraft appears to be imminent as thousands of technicians worked through the New Year at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC) in northwestern Gansu Province. People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily reported Dec. 31 that thousands of technicians and military personnel volunteered to cancel their holidays so that they could continue their duties at the "testing frontline" - a cryptic reference to the Shenzhou-3 (SZ-3) launch.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.