SpaceX Has A Roomba-Like Robot But No One Knows What It Really Is

SpaceX fans are extremely curious about a new robot that keeps appearing on SpaceX's drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You." Some are calling it the "Roomba" robot while others insist it should be called "Optimus Prime." There are theories as to what this robot is for, but there's no confirmation from SpaceX itself, yet.

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Following is the transcript of the video:

We reached out to SpaceX for more details about this mysterious robot, but it was unable to give us any information. However, we can tell you that SpaceX only refers to the machine as a robot and does not assign it any other name (like Roomba or Optimus Prime).

The animation of how the robot might work was created and produced by Lukas Kowalski who has a YouTube called kNews Space, which features more cool animations. Following is a transcript of the video.

There’s a mysterious robot roaming about on one of SpaceX’s drone ships. Some are calling it the “Roomba” robot, while others refer to it as “Optimus Prime.” No one is certain of its real name or exactly how this robot works, but we do know one thing: SpaceX isn’t giving any details away — yet.

The new machine first attracted attention when it appeared on SpaceX’s drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in March. Since then, many SpaceX fans have speculated as to its purpose and function. The leading theory is that this robot helps stabilize Falcon 9 rockets after the first stage touches down so that the rough ocean waves don’t tip the rocket off balance.

If that’s the case, then this robot could save SpaceX a lot of time and effort. Right now, after a rocket touches down on one of SpaceX’s drone ships, SpaceX sends a crew out to the ship to secure the rocket before returning it to shore.

But this new robot could speed up the process. Here’s how that might work:

The robot lives on the drone ship. After a rocket landing, it exits its cubby, drives itself underneath the rocket, and secures the rocket to the ship. Now, the drone ship can immediately head back to shore as it would no longer need to wait for a crew. If SpaceX fans are right, this could be the latest self-navigating robot in SpaceX’s already impressive fleet of self-guiding rockets and self-sailing ships.

Who knows what SpaceX will build next. It probably won’t disappoint.

[lewisod]

And if spaceX fans are wrong they have just given spaceX a good idea

[skrillzplayz]

Elon Musk is the guy who wants to bring the future to us, not wait for it to come to us xD

[GamerDemonz]

Elon musk is the tony stark of our time

[Mehithose]

at least it purpose is not passing butter...

[JP-ujkm]

For a news channel you guys didn't really do your research. Elon already hinted/told the media what this robot does. It will help secure the first stage once it has landed on the drone ship to help prevent the Falcon first stage from falling off the ship in high seas.

Check out the SES10 news conference on the Space News 360 channel.

[julianblandi]

Well god damn Mr Musk. You were right about You and Zuckerburg

[RabidPrairieDog]

Your leading theory is correct. The robot will make it quicker (recovery crew takes time to assess and approach the landed booster), safer (in case the booster may tip over), and cheaper (renting the tugboat to ferry the recovery crew and overtime and hazard pay for the recovery crew when there are delays costs a lot of money) to secure the landed booster. The robot was supposed to debut for SES-10 in March of this year, but there were technical difficulties, plus SpaceX did not want to risk "an experiment" on the recovery of a flight-proven booster. Source? Me. I am a current flight software engineer for SpaceX.

How it works is simple. The robot positions itself under the recovered booster and "arms" lock onto the octaweb structure of the engines holding it down until the droneship returns to port for legs removal and inspection.

[FalconFastest]

Elon Musk is secretly Batman. Or Ironman. Or both!

[myfavoritemartian]

It is called "The Octagrabber" by Spacex. (It looks like an Octopus obviously). It is indeed for securing a Falcon 9 booster after landing and not lose it to rough seas like the center core to the first Falcon Heavy.

[Aboood-kkek]

The Thumbnail Makes The robot looks like a tiny drone that you get for 5 bucks and it breaks after 2 hours of using it Idk why I feel that

[booketoiles]

That moment you realize that by hanging on Reddit you know more about classified space tech than actual journalists.

[kedityt]

Sometimes I think companies build weird models to see what fans think it is and they are like "oh yeah good idea lets go with that" lol

[dsofe]

In soviet Russia, you send Ivan out to ship. Ivan weld rocket to ship, is cheaper.

[gfbtfbtfilyfxbtyewqqef]

Self driving cars, self sailing ships, self guiding robots. Next up on Elon Musk, self writing pen and self eating food

[BrotherJApologetics]

Everytime she says "SpaceX" imagine "SpaceSex"

[_Super_Hans_]

Elon Musk for eternal leader of the world.

[stitch]

Considering someone built the thing, I really hope there is at least one that knows what it really is.

[rnbpl]

0:37 to skip what you already know from the title

[klausgartenstiel]

the robot lives on the robot ship. ain't that heartwarming?

[Level_Up_Nation]

He is also building "Builder Robots" for his dream of building a Moon Base and Mars base, he would use robots as the first things over to construct the bases then Humans, this just might be a test for the overall fleet.