Beyond Earth's Cradle: How Human Factors Shape the Future of Space Manufacturing Space manufacturing – the dream of building things beyond our planet – is no longer science fiction. With ambitious goals like lunar outposts and asteroid mining on the horizon, we need to consider more than just the technical challenges of space construction. The human element, often overlooked in engineering discussions, becomes paramount when dealing with the unique environment of space. This brings us to Human Factors (HF) – a crucial discipline that focuses on understanding how humans interact with technology and their environment. In the context of space manufacturing, HF plays a vital role in designing systems and workspaces that are not only functional but also safe, efficient,...
Building Bridges Across the Cosmos: How Robots are Shaping Our Future of Planetary Exploration The human desire to explore the cosmos is as old as time itself. We gaze at the stars, dreaming of distant worlds and searching for answers to the universe's greatest mysteries. But venturing into the vastness of space presents significant challenges. The extreme environments, unforgiving distances, and inherent dangers make it risky, even impossible, for humans to explore every corner of our solar system alone. This is where technology steps in, specifically, Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), bridging the gap between human ambition and planetary exploration's practical realities. Robots are becoming increasingly sophisticated, evolving from simple drones to autonomous explorers capable of performing complex tasks, collecting invaluable data,...