American company Icarus Robotics, which develops mobile robots for space missions, carried out tests of the Joy free-flying platform on the eve of the demonstration on the International Space Station 2027 year.
Due to the lack of suitable facilities in the US, the trial was conducted in Canada. During four parabolic flights, the robot acquired 22 minutes of work in microgravity conditions. The operation of the flight controller has been checked, sensors and manipulators, and planning procedures have also been worked out, coordination with the crew and safety.
Joy is seen as a stage in the creation of a robotic complex to service orbital data centers, construction of the lunar infrastructure and ensuring the long-term presence of man in space. The tests confirmed the relevance of the development of national capabilities for the validation of space equipment against the background of increasing investments in commercial orbital stations.
Source: https://spacenews.com