NASAs Valkyrie Superhero Robot Continues Evolution for Mission to MarsBy Nicholas West One such robot that represents grand promises for making a giant leap with humans is NASAs Valkyrie humanoid robot which continues to receive upgrades that its creators expect to take it to Mars as soon as the 2030s. The Valkyrie concept was first unveiled to the public in December, 2013, as seen in the first video below. At the time it was being presented to participate in DARPAs Robotics Challenge, where it did not fare well at all versus its competition it scored zero points being bested by that years winner SCHAFT, developed by Google. Nevertheless, it has been billed as one of the most expensive humanoid robots ever created, employing more than 50 people at NASA, working two shifts for a total of 22 hours per day. Subsequent versions eventually delivered it into the hands of several universities, including Scotlands University of Edinburgh, then on to Northeastern in the United States where it will now spend time with developers there as part of NASAs newest program to utilize university research to propel Valkyrie in DARPAs competition. While the robot still stands at 62 and weighs north of 250 pounds, it does appear to be more streamlined. It is now being touted as one of the most advanced humanoid robots in the world. You can see its progression throughout the video documentation from Edinburgh here, as well as in the latest video posted below where it is presented to an audience at Northeastern University. Whether or not Valkyrie will fulfill its grand mission to explore deep space and help prepare Mars for human astronaut arrival and, presumably, future colonization remains to be seen. Do you think this is money well spent? Or is space exploration best pursued outside of government control, if at all? Please leave your thoughts below. Image Credit: Northeastern University Nicholas West writes for selfnewsPost.com. This article can be freely republished with author attribution and source link. JUNK more costly JUNK by the time IF EVER this thing goes ANYWHERE there will be CHINESE FAST FOOD TAK AWAY on MARS ! Just train this THING to CLEAN TOILETS for rich scumbags instead of polluting the solar system. SEND PEOPLE INSTEAD! NEWS DARPA just invented their FIRST useful thing an AUTOMATIC TOILET SEAT LIFTER WOW! VOTE for TRUMP for PEACE and PROSPERITY for the USA and to stop wasting our TAX MONEY on useless JUNK.. Robbie the robot would look like a out of shape pumpkin next to his distant cousin. Total unadulterated bullshit. As is everything from nassholes. FAKE SHT..NASA ISNT GOING ANYWHERETHEY HAVENT BEEN ANYWHERE 