Robots and artificial intelligence have become integral parts of our daily lives, engaging in tasks such as designing medications, responding to queries (albeit occasionally inaccurately), and functioning as personal digital aides. As time progresses, there’s a possibility that they might permeate various aspects of our existence, ranging from empathy to exploration.
M3GAN’s first theatrical at-bat ended in bloodshed, which might be why the latest artificial intelligence-powered robot to come out of real-world labs is destined for the Red Planet. Recently, a team of researchers, spearheaded by Jun Jiang at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, unveiled an AI-equipped robot proficient in generating oxygen from Martian materials alone. The findings of this mechanized chemist were documented in the journal Nature Synthesis.
As humanity progresses toward the next phase of space exploration, the emphasis lies in utilizing local resources at our ultimate destination. Anything obtainable or manufacturable on the Moon, Mars, or other celestial bodies alleviates the burden of launching supplies from Earth. And nothing is more invaluable than oxygen.
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This artificially intelligent robotic chemist assumes the form of a substantial box, akin to a refrigerator laid on its side, with a robotic arm extending from one side for material manipulation. Researchers supplied the robot with five meteorites, either originating from Mars or replicating the composition of the Martian surface, and then stepped back.
The robot employed acid and alkali to disintegrate the Martian ore, scrutinizing its components. Once armed with this information, it sifted through 3.7 million potential combinations, seeking a catalyst for an oxygen-evolution reaction capable of liberating oxygen from water. Crucially, it executed the entire process—from preparing Martian material to synthesizing the catalyst, characterizing, testing, and seeking the optimal formula—autonomously, without human intervention.
The team approximated that their robot could generate 60 grams of oxygen per hour from a solitary square meter of Martian soil. While this isn’t the sole experiment in Martian oxygen production, with NASA’s MOXIE on the Perseverance rover already achieving this feat, the pursuit of diverse oxygen production tools remains imperative in extraterrestrial environments.
Mars may lack breathable oxygen, yet it boasts abundant water ice at the poles and an inexhaustible supply of Martian rock elsewhere. With an artificially intelligent robotic chemist at one’s disposal, these are the only two ingredients required to manufacture all the breathable air one could ever need. The only caveat is ensuring that this robot remains benevolent when its services are most crucial.
