Skip to main content

NASA to equip Robonaut with (very long) legs in 2014 upgrade

While we patiently await news of how recent Japanese International Space Station arrival Koichi Wakata is getting along with talking-robot Kirobo on board the habitable satellite, NASA has been showing off the latest developments with its own Robonaut humanoid.

Robonaut, in case you weren’t aware, is a highly dexterous robot-astronaut that since 2011 has been helping on the ISS with various tests and tasks. He even finds time to send out the occasional tweet.

Recommended Videos

Unfortunately for Robonaut, his movement is severely restricted by the fact that he currently sits atop a fixed pedestal. However, that’s all set to change, as the humanoid, the result of a NASA collaboration with General Motors, is about to get its first pair of fully functioning legs. And they’re massive.robonaut-with-legs

Once fixed up, Robonaut will be strolling around the space station at eight-feet tall, and possibly banging his head a lot as he goes.

Currently based on terra firma, astronaut Cady Coleman, who first set up Robonaut on the ISS two years ago, told ABC News recently she could now see a lot more potential for robots in space.

Adding legs to Robonaut means he’ll be able to make his way around the space station independently and in a more controlled manner, as well as have the ability to move across lunar and Martian terrain, though such planet-exploring missions are thought to be some way off.

Engineers will have to be confident Robonaut’s legs are in perfect working order before sending him to the ISS. “His legs are going to be really, really long,” Coleman says. “He has to be able to stretch through the hatches on the space station between modules. He is going to walk more like an antelope than take little steps.”

It’s hoped that a fully developed Robonaut will one day be able to assist astronauts with challenging or dangerous tasks regardless of environmental conditions. 

There are actually four Robonauts in operation, with one on the ISS. If NASA has a basketball team in an inter-company league, it might want to consider getting the three on the ground involved once those legs are attached.

[ABC News via engadget]

 
Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

Read more
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more