JAXA Wants Telepresence Robots for In-Space Construction and Exploration

Last Monday, we covered the new, updated, and way way better guidelines for the ANA Avatar XPRIZE. Since we were mostly talking with the folks over at XPRIZE, we didn't realize that ANA (All Nippon Airways) is putting a massive amount of effort into this avatar concept-- they're partnering with JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, "to create a new space industry centered around real-world avatars." AVATAR X aims to capitalize on the growing space-based economy by accelerating development of real-world Avatars that will enable humans to remotely build camps on the Moon, support long-term space missions and further explore space from afar. These avatars will be essentially the same sorts of things that the Avatar XPRIZE is looking to advance: Robotic systems designed to operate with a human in the loop through immersive telepresence, allowing them to complete tasks like a human could without a human needing to be physically there. JAXA says that they're interested in the usual stuff, like remote construction in space and maintenance, but also in "space-based entertainment and travel for the general public," so use your imagination on that one.