NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

As a robotics engineer, Sandeep Yayathi is developing a battery-based power system that will allow the Robonaut 2 now aboard the space station to move about freely without having to be plugged in to the space station’s power grid. Image Credit: NASA

NASA robotics engineer Sandeep Yayathi works on Robonaut 2, or R2, a dexterous humanoid robot built and designed at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. On April 4, 2012, Yayathi answered student questions about his work with R2, his career path and what the future holds for robotics. R2 launched to the International Space Station on space shuttle Discovery as part of the STS-133 mission. R2 is the first dexterous humanoid robot in space and the first U.S.-built robot at the space station.

Yayathi is developing a new power system including a battery backpack to allow Robonaut 2 to move about freely without having to be plugged into the space station’s power grid. Eventually, the new power system will allow an upgraded version of the robot to work outside the station.

From an early age, Yayathi was interested in robotics. He began building LEGO sets in elementary school. After joining FIRST robotics, Yayathi was hooked! In college he earned a degree in electrical engineering. He developed a passion for robotics while mentoring high school students in the FIRST national competition.

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