Motiv Space Systems and PickNik Robotics Forge Software Partnership for NASA's Fly Foundational Robotics (FFR) Mission

United States - Ekhbary News Agency

Motiv Space Systems and PickNik Robotics Forge Software Partnership for NASA's Fly Foundational Robotics (FFR) Mission

In a move set to significantly advance the field of space robotics, Motiv Space Systems, based in Pasadena, California, and PickNik Robotics, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, have formalized a contractual agreement. Announced on February 11, 2026, this collaboration will focus on the critical software development required for NASA's upcoming Fly Foundational Robotics (FFR) mission. The FFR mission is designed to push the boundaries of robotic capabilities in orbit, specifically targeting advancements in on-orbit manipulation, a key component for NASA's ambitious In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) initiatives.

Motiv Space Systems is spearheading the development of the core robotic system for the FFR mission. This system is intended to demonstrate sophisticated autonomous and ground-supervised manipulation tasks within the challenging environment of low Earth orbit. The success of these operations hinges on highly reliable and intelligent software that can manage complex robotic movements under strict operational constraints. This is where the expertise of PickNik Robotics becomes crucial.

PickNik Robotics, renowned for its deep expertise in robotics software, will be providing essential robot motion planning and arm control software. This development will leverage their robust commercial robotics platform, MoveIt Pro. The MoveIt Pro platform is designed to handle complex motion planning scenarios, enabling precise control and execution of robotic tasks. For the FFR mission, this software will be tailored to support comprehensive mission planning, intricate simulations, and the actual execution of robotic movements, all while adhering to the stringent safety and operational parameters of spaceflight.

A cornerstone of the FFR mission's software architecture will be a specialized version of the Robot Operating System (ROS) known as Space ROS. Developed under the umbrella of the Open Source Robotics Foundation, with significant contributions from both PickNik and NASA, Space ROS is engineered to meet the unique demands of spaceflight applications. It provides a standardized framework that incorporates best practices for aerospace software development, ensuring reliability, safety, and compatibility with long-duration missions. PickNik's involvement in Space ROS as a major contributor further solidifies the synergy between the companies and the mission's technical requirements.

Beyond the core motion planning and control software, PickNik will also play a vital role in integration activities. This includes ensuring seamless interoperability between Motiv's robotic system and the hosted orbital platform provider, Astro Digital. This collaborative integration is essential for the overall success of the mission, ensuring all components work harmoniously in the space environment.

PickNik's scope of work extends to delivering a flight-ready runtime configuration optimized for the mission's specific compute environment. Furthermore, they will develop a ground-based operator terminal powered by MoveIt Pro. This terminal will serve as a critical interface for mission planning, rigorous testing, and pre-launch validation. These tools are designed to empower the mission team to thoroughly evaluate robotic behaviors through advanced simulation, digital twin analysis, and detailed operational reviews, both before launch and during the mission's on-orbit execution phase. This proactive approach minimizes risks and enhances mission assurance.

The collaboration also encompasses crucial software integration and co-development support in key areas such as behavior execution management, system monitoring interfaces, and the development of operational tooling. These capabilities are specifically aligned with the mission's demanding requirements, including long-duration operations and the inherent challenges of intermittent communications in space. The development will build upon the strengths of MoveIt Pro's behavior sequencing and modular runtime architecture, while utilizing Space ROS to maintain alignment with established spaceflight software standards. PickNik will also support the use of representative development hardware, designed to mirror the flight compute environment, to facilitate thorough ground testing.

Chris Thayer, CEO of Motiv Space Systems, expressed his enthusiasm: "The Fly Foundational Robotics mission is a critical step toward demonstrating state-of-the-art flight robotic manipulation capabilities that can enable a sustainable and scalable ISAM economy. We’re proud to support NASA as it advances the next generation of autonomous space operations."

Dave Coleman, Founder and Chief Product Officer of PickNik Robotics, added, "FFR is an exciting opportunity to apply MoveIt Pro’s commercially available motion planning software to the unique challenges of on-orbit operations. We’re glad to support Motiv’s team as they prepare for on-orbit mission operations."

The FFR mission is anticipated to yield invaluable operational experience and lessons learned, which will be instrumental in informing the design and execution of future robotic missions and capabilities. This partnership exemplifies the power of industry collaboration in accelerating space exploration and the development of essential space infrastructure.

Ekhbary News Agency