GITAI USA . announced that its Inchworm-type Robotic Arm has achieved Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6) after completing a series of integrated tests in a thermal vacuum chamber. These tests were conducted under conditions designed to simulate the environment of the lunar South Pole, a region with extreme temperature variations. The robot arm demonstrated its ability to operate continuously for 29 hours, enduring temperatures as low as -140°C and maintaining function in a vacuum of less than 1E-5 Torr.
During the testing, the robotic arm performed inchworm-type locomotion, covering a distance of about one mile, and operated on both wireless power transmission and backup battery systems. The testing also included a simulation of a docking procedure with a satellite, where the robot arm successfully utilized its tool-changing function to attach an end effector and capture the satellite’s separation ring.
The achievement of TRL6 represents a significant step forward for GITAI’s robotic technology. The company is developing multiple space robotic solutions aimed at reducing the cost of space operations, including robotic satellites and lunar robotic rovers. GITAI’s S2 robotic arm, which shares 80% of its core components with the Inchworm-type robotic arm, has already achieved TRL7 following successful demonstrations on the International Space Station.
