The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reached a major milestone with the successful operation of its first space robotic arm on the POEM4 platform. This robotic arm, called the Relocatable Robotic Manipulator-Technology Demonstrator (RRM-TD), was activated during the PSLV-C60 SpaDeX mission.
ISRO announced the achievement on X, stating, “RRM_TD, India’s first space robotic arm, is in action onboard #POEM4! A proud #MakeInIndia milestone in space robotics.” The space agency also shared a video showing the arm performing various operations in space.
The video starts with the robotic arm unlocking and lifting from its base position. It then shows the arm performing complex tasks like “Arm manipulation with 7 actuators” and “Positioning using visual servoing,” a technique that uses visual data to control the robot’s movements. The footage ends with the arm returning to its base position after completing its tasks, as reported by NDTV.
Developed by the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), the RRM-TD is India’s first space robotic manipulator with walking capability. It features advanced technology, including indigenous robotic joints, arm controllers, and visual servoing systems. Equipped with cameras for precise eye-in-hand operation, the robotic arm also has multiple safety features to ensure smooth functioning.
