I took control of NASA’s Valkyrie robot and it blew my mind



NASA’s Valkyrie robot, ready to be inhabited through virtual reality
James Woodford
I am standing before one of the most advanced robots in the world and am awestruck and disoriented by its humanoid form. Part Transformer, part Star Wars stormtrooper and with hands that look like they can crush beer cans, at 1.8 metres tall and weighing 120 kilograms, NASA’s Valkyrie robot is an intimidating figure.
But it is the face that most transfixes me. Where the eyes, mouth and nose should be is a cavity filled with an array of whirring and flashing sensors, including advanced lidar detectors…
You Might Also Like
Solar drone with wingspan wider than jumbo jet could fly for months
The Skydweller droneSkydweller A solar-powered surveillance drone with a wingspan larger than a Boeing 747 jumbo jet could fly for...
Why Trump’s order targeting ‘woke’ AI may be impossible to follow
US President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order at an AI summit on 23 July 2025 in Washington, DCChip...
Sprinkling limestone on farms may offer an unexpected climate win
Farmers spread lime on pastures to improve the quality of the soilWayne HUTCHINSON/Alamy The centuries-old practice of spreading crushed limestone...
Your chance of having a boy or girl may not be 50/50
A woman’s age may determine whether she has only sons or daughtersMarko Pekic/Getty Images You may assume that a woman’s...