World's First*: Space Entry to Develop Space Robot Attitude Control and Remote Operation Technologies Inspired by 'How Cats Land'

Space Entry Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture; CEO: Ryoichi Kumagai) has been selected for Ibaraki Prefecture's 'Fiscal Year 2026 Strategic Field New Product Development Promotion Subsidy'.

This project aims to develop foundational technologies supporting 'communication' and 'motion control' for space robots, anticipating the era of Physical AI in private space stations expected to flourish around 2030. The company will work towards building a common platform for robots operating in space.

[The Need for a Common Foundation for Space Robots in the Private Space Era]

Space development is undergoing a major shift from government-led initiatives to an era where private companies are actively participating.

Around 2030, following the decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS), a new space economy centered on private space stations is expected to emerge. In the future, robots will become essential in space not only for research and development but also for facility construction, maintenance, logistics, and manufacturing.

However, current space robot development involves individually building delay mitigation technologies for space-to-ground communication and control technologies for microgravity environments for each robot. As a result, a common communication and control infrastructure that diverse robots can share is not yet sufficiently established. To address this challenge, our company will develop foundational technologies to support 'communication' and 'control' for space robots.

[Building a Space Robot Platform with Two Key Technologies]

① Fuel-Free Attitude Control Simulation Technology Inspired by 'How Cats Land' (World's First*)

Traditionally, robots in space have changed their orientation by ejecting propellants such as gas. However, propellants are limited in quantity, posing challenges for operational lifespan and maintainability during long-term space missions. Additionally, gases emitted during propulsion may affect other cameras and sensors installed in space.

Our company focuses on 'non-holonomic attitude control,' a principle being researched by Professor Yuki Kubo, specially appointed professor at Kobe University, which shows promise for robot control in microgravity environments. Just as a cat falling from a height twists its body mid-air and lands safely using only its own body movements, we will apply this principle to space robots, enabling them to change their orientation using only the movement of their limbs.

In this project, we will prototype and demonstrate a simulation technology for attitude control of humanoid robots that does not require fuel, utilizing non-holonomic attitude control. By establishing this technology, we aim to extend the operational life of space robots, reduce operating costs, and enable safer and more flexible space operations.

② Remote Operation Technology Resilient to Space-Specific Communication Delays

When operating robots in space from Earth, communication delays (time lag) occur due to transmission paths.

Even minor delays, negligible on Earth, can impair operability and affect safety during precise operations of space robots.

In this project, we will build an experimental environment on Earth that replicates orbital communication conditions. We will develop communication control algorithms that enable stable remote operation even under conditions of communication delay and data loss, and prototype and demonstrate corresponding operation terminals and communication control modules. This will ultimately aim to create an environment where not only a limited number of specialists but also diverse users, including companies and individuals, can utilize space robots.

[CEO Ryoichi Kumagai's Comment]

What we aim for is not to build just one space robot. Our goal is to create from Japan the foundational 'platform for space robots' that will support a future where hundreds or thousands of space robots safely operate on the lunar surface or in private space stations.

Current space development is at a major turning point. From now on, it will be an era where not only a few experts and large corporations but also many companies and individuals will engage with space. For this, a common communication and control infrastructure accessible to everyone is indispensable. The attitude control and remote operation technologies we are developing now are an important step toward realizing that future. By learning from nature's wisdom and applying it to cutting-edge space technology, we will challenge the creation of a Japan-led space robot platform.

[Future Outlook]

We plan to complete prototyping and demonstration of the fuel-free attitude control simulation technology and the remote operation technology resilient to space communication delays by the end of 2026. Following this, we will advance the refinement of prototypes and verification under space-like conditions, aiming for practical application in private space stations around 2030. Furthermore, in the future, by evolving these technologies into a foundation for implementing Physical AI in space, we will contribute to creating a new space industry where AI and robots operate autonomously. Additionally, these technologies are also expected to be applied on Earth, such as in disaster response, remote operations in hazardous environments, and infrastructure inspections.

Space Entry will build a common foundation for 'connectivity' and 'mobility' technologies to realize a future where space robots routinely operate, aiming to establish a Japan-led space robot platform.

*World's First (as of July 2026, based on company research): Simulation technology for attitude reorientation of humanoid robots in zero-gravity environments using non-holonomic attitude control