- China leads the way and accounts for 58% of all patent applications in the last three years, followed by the US and Japan.
Space robotics has recently experienced a significant surge in growth, emerging as a hub of innovation and attracting substantial investment.
The field has reached a critical juncture, poised for exponential expansion. In the last three years, more than 40 pioneering companies have ventured into the space robotics domain, securing over $200 million in venture capital, as reported by GlobalData.
Space robotics is centered around the design and development of robots that can function effectively in the demanding environment of outer space, playing indispensable roles in a diverse array of space exploration missions.
Significant stride
Insights from GlobalData reveal that companies operating in this rapidly evolving sector are crafting a wide range of innovative applications. These advancements encompass meticulous spacecraft inspections, efficient satellite servicing, precise component assembly, reliable spacecraft refueling, and the crucial task of space debris collection.
Each of these applications represents a significant stride towards enhancing the sustainability and progress of space missions.
Among the more than 20 innovative technologies identified in the space industry, space robotics has exhibited one of the highest rates of growth in innovation activities over the past year.
Designated as one of the emerging technologies by GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, space robots are spearheading this technological surge.
Notably, China has taken the lead, accounting for 58 per cent of all patent applications in this sector over the last three years, with the US and Japan closely trailing behind.
Proliferation of new players
“Innovation in space technologies has historically been dominated by large publicly funded space agencies. NASA, for instance, has been exploring robotic astronauts, also known as cosmonauts, since 2010, developing and testing various robotic exoskeletons,” Sourabh Nyalkalkar, Practice Head of Innovation Products at GlobalData, remarks, said.
However, he said the convergence of Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics technology, coupled with the impetus provided by venture capital and specialised large private organisations, is propelling innovative technologies such as space robotics to the forefront.
MDA Ltd, based in Canada, is a standout player in the realm of space innovation. With a track record spanning over 450 space missions, the company recently introduced Skymaker, a modular robotic solution adaptable for a range of missions, including lunar surface landings and orbital exploration.
Similarly, Airbus has made notable progress by deploying robotic arms in its OneSat satellites in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).
Space agencies are increasingly incorporating robots into their varied missions. In a significant milestone, the Japanese space agency, JAXA, successfully landed its lunar robot, SORA-Q, in January 2024 as part of the ‘Moon Sniper’ mission. NASA is equally ambitious, undertaking a project that involves fully autonomous robots constructing shelters and solar arrays on the surfaces of the Moon and Mars.
Nyalkalkar said the proliferation of new players in space robotics is a cause for excitement in the industry. Companies like China-based Aerospace New Long March EV Technology, Gitai, and Astrobotics are propelling the field towards more advanced applications of space robotics.
In a testament to the growing confidence in this technology, he said the Japanese startup Aeroscale, specialising in space debris clearance, made a remarkable debut on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with its share prices surging by 51 per cent in the first week of June 2024.
“These early indicators signal a transformative shift driven by robotics in space technology, holding the promise of turning science fiction into reality in the foreseeable future.”