NASA's Push for In-Space Robotic Assembly
PickNik Robotics and Motiv Space Systems have announced a partnership to support NASA's Fly Foundational Robotics mission, part of the broader In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing initiative known as ISAM. The mission aims to demonstrate on-orbit robotic manipulation capabilities in low Earth orbit, advancing technologies needed for future space construction, satellite servicing, and modular assembly operations. Motiv will develop the robotic hardware while PickNik provides the motion planning and control software that will guide the arm through its orbital tasks.
MoveIt Pro Powers the Control Stack
PickNik's contribution centers on its MoveIt Pro platform, a commercially available software system for behavior sequencing and modular runtime architecture. The platform will handle mission planning, simulation, and execution of robotic arm motion for the FFR mission. A ground-based operator terminal enables mission planning, testing, and validation before commands are sent to the orbital system. Digital twin analysis and simulation capabilities allow engineers to rehearse complex manipulation sequences in a virtual environment before the robot executes them in space. The entire software stack runs on Space ROS, a specialized version of the Robot Operating System designed to meet spaceflight reliability standards.
Building on Proven Space Heritage
Both companies bring substantial space robotics credentials to the partnership. PickNik partnered with JAXA, Japan's space agency, in 2025 on the Payload Organization and Transportation Robotic System, demonstrating a multi-armed robotic system for handling ISS cargo and equipment in microgravity. Motiv collaborated with NASA in 2022 to develop the Cold Operable Lunar Deployable Arm, or COLDArm, a robotic system that functions at temperatures as low as minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit without internal heating, conserving up to 30% of mission energy. These prior programs provided the technical foundations that both firms are now applying to the FFR mission.
Toward a Scalable Space Robotics Economy
Motiv CEO Chris Thayer described the FFR mission as "a critical step toward demonstrating state-of-the-art flight robotic manipulation capabilities that can enable a sustainable and scalable ISAM economy." PickNik founder and Chief Product Officer Dave Coleman highlighted the opportunity to apply MoveIt Pro's commercially available motion-planning software to the unique challenges of on-orbit operations. NASA anticipates the mission will generate operational experience and lessons applicable to future robotic endeavors across cislunar space and beyond. The partnership with Astro Digital as the hosted orbital platform provider completes the mission architecture, giving the robotic system a stable spacecraft from which to operate during its orbital demonstrations.
This article is based on reporting by The Robot Report. Read the original article.
