Google and NASA Are Building AI Robot Doctor for Space

Google and NASA are collaborating to create an AI-powered robot designed to assist astronauts during medical emergencies on future missions to the Moon and Mars. The robot will help with medical tasks, move equipment, organize supplies, and perform routine maintenance. An initial laboratory test showed the robot had an 85% success rate in locating and moving a medical bag.

However, it is still in development and cannot perform medical procedures independently. Astronauts on Mars would face significant delays in communication with doctors on Earth, taking up to 44 minutes for messages to travel round-trip. To address this issue, Google and NASA are developing a robot that could assist astronauts when medical help from Earth is delayed.

The robot will follow spoken instructions and help with various tasks inside a spacecraft. It could retrieve medical equipment, such as an ultrasound machine, and assist with examinations. The robot would not replace human medical personnel or make treatment decisions independently. Instead, it would perform other duties like moving cargo, organizing tools, securing equipment, and helping with routine maintenance, allowing astronauts to focus on scientific research.

The project builds upon an earlier AI medical support system that helped astronauts make medical decisions without immediate assistance from Earth. Google and NASA are testing the technology in laboratory conditions and adapting technology originally designed for tracking objects in space to help the robot navigate inside a spacecraft.

Researchers have tested various computing devices to ensure the AI system runs efficiently without consuming too much power. Currently, the robot is in its early testing stage, and there is no announced timeline for its deployment into space.