Manufacturer profile

NASA JSC

1 robot tracked on ui44 headquartered in USA with pricing still largely handled through direct quotes.

  • 1 active model
  • Research leads the lineup
  • Updated Feb 26, 2026

Coverage snapshot

Tracked robots
1
Categories
1
Available now
1
Price view
Quote based

Why this page matters

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Manufacturer brief

What stands out about NASA JSC

NASA JSC currently spans 1 robot in the ui44 database. The portfolio leans toward research with 1 model leading the lineup. 1 model is already available or active today. Pricing is largely handled through direct sales or undisclosed quotes.

Bipedal WalkingObject ManipulationUneven Terrain NavigationTool Use
portfolio

1 Research

NASA JSC is most concentrated in research robotics, with 1 category represented overall.

availability

1/1

1 robot is marked available or active, which helps frame how commercial-ready this lineup is.

pricing

Quote-based

Public pricing is limited, so the commercial picture depends on direct sales conversations or enterprise quotes.

Portfolio

What this manufacturer actually covers

NASA JSC needs an at-a-glance summary before the page branches into deeper editorial content. This chapter brings the company snapshot, compare entry points, and model gallery into one clean first read.

About NASA JSC

NASA JSC is a robotics company headquartered in USA. The company currently has 1 robot tracked in the ui44 Home Robot Database, spanning the Research category.

Key Capabilities

Bipedal Walking Object Manipulation Uneven Terrain Navigation Tool Use Autonomous Perception Modular Limb Servicing Wall Power or Battery Operation

At a Glance

Robots Tracked

1 model

Category

Research

Headquarters

USA

Available Now

1 robot

Browse all robotics companies on the manufacturers directory, or explore robots from USA.

NASA JSC Robot

Model coverage

The tracked NASA JSC robot is grouped here so the catalog can be scanned quickly before diving deeper into pricing, specs, and context.

Browse the full robot directory
Valkyrie (R5) by NASA JSC — Research robot
Active
Research
NASA JSC

Valkyrie (R5)

NASA's R5 Valkyrie is an entirely electric humanoid robot designed and built at the Johnson Space Center for the 2013 DARPA Robotics Challenge. Named after a…

~1 hour136kg
Price TBA View
Product and tech

Lineup structure and platform signals

A premium manufacturer page should make it easy to understand how the lineup is organized and what technical patterns show up across the portfolio, not just list robots one by one.

Technology & Capabilities

NASA JSC's robots combine a range of technologies and capabilities. Here is a consolidated look at the sensors, connectivity, AI platforms, and capabilities found across their product line.

Key Capabilities

  • Bipedal Walking 1/1 (100%)
  • Object Manipulation 1/1 (100%)
  • Uneven Terrain Navigation 1/1 (100%)
  • Tool Use 1/1 (100%)
  • Autonomous Perception 1/1 (100%)
  • Modular Limb Servicing 1/1 (100%)
  • Wall Power or Battery Operation 1/1 (100%)

Sensor Technology

  • Carnegie Robotics Multisense SL (stereo, laser, IR structured light) 1/1 (100%)
  • Hazard Cameras (fore and aft) 1/1 (100%)
  • IMUs (2, in pelvis) 1/1 (100%)
  • Series Elastic Actuator Sensors 1/1 (100%)

Connectivity

  • Ethernet 1/1 (100%)
  • Wi-Fi 1/1 (100%)

AI & Intelligence

Autonomous locomotion, perception via stereo/laser/IR point clouds
Commercial reality

Pricing, availability, and hard specs

Decision-making gets easier when pricing, availability, and comparable specs are presented as a coherent buying surface instead of disconnected blocks.

Pricing & Availability

1/1

Available now

NASA JSC does not currently list public pricing for any of its model. This is common for enterprise-focused and research robotics companies that operate on custom quotes or contact-sales pricing.

Evaluation

Buyer guidance and plain-language spec decoding

This section translates the raw database into practical evaluation advice, which helps the page feel like expert editorial rather than a raw export.

Buying Guide: Is a NASA JSC Robot Right for You?

Choosing the right robot depends on your use case, budget, and technical needs. Here's what to consider when evaluating NASA JSC's product line.

Who Should Consider NASA JSC Robots

Enterprise & Research Buyers

NASA JSC serves enterprise and research customers. 1 of their models require contacting sales for pricing, indicating enterprise-tier products with custom deployment support.

Key Factors to Evaluate

Availability

1 of 1 models are currently available. Check individual robot pages for the latest status.

Category Fit

Make sure the robot's category matches your primary use case. Browse all categories.

Sensor Ecosystem

Review the technology section to understand what sensing and connectivity each model offers.

Price Transparency

0 of 1 models list public pricing. For unlisted models, request quotes early.

Ecosystem Compatibility

Some NASA JSC robots integrate with third-party platforms. Check compatibility on each robot's page.

Compare Before You Buy

Evaluate NASA JSC robots head-to-head or against competitors with our comparison tool.

Compare robots →

NASA JSC Specifications Explained

Raw numbers only tell part of the story. Here is a plain-language explanation of what each specification means for the NASA JSC robot — and what it means for you as a buyer or researcher.

Valkyrie (R5)

Specifications Breakdown

Height

188cm

At 188cm, the Valkyrie (R5) is roughly the height of an average adult human, which allows it to interact naturally with human-designed environments including countertops, doorways, and shelving at standard heights. This size is important for robots that need to work alongside people in factories, warehouses, or homes.

Weight

136kg

Weighing 136kg, the Valkyrie (R5) is a substantial machine. This weight provides stability during physical tasks and manipulation but means it requires careful consideration for floor loading and may need dedicated charging infrastructure. Industrial-weight robots typically offer higher payload capacity and more robust construction.

Battery Life

~1 hour

The Valkyrie (R5) offers ~1 hour of battery life per charge. Battery life is one of the most critical real-world performance metrics for any mobile robot. It determines how much work the robot can accomplish in a single session before needing to recharge. For research robots, this runtime should be evaluated against the size of the area you need covered and the intensity of the tasks involved. Robots with self-charging capability can partially compensate for shorter battery life by autonomously returning to their dock.

AI Platform

Autonomous locomotion, perception via stereo/laser/IR point clouds

The Valkyrie (R5) runs on Autonomous locomotion, perception via stereo/laser/IR point clouds for its artificial intelligence capabilities. The AI platform determines how intelligently the robot behaves — from basic reactive responses to sophisticated scene understanding, natural language processing, and adaptive learning. A more advanced AI platform generally means better obstacle avoidance, more natural interaction, and the ability to improve performance over time through software updates.

Dimensions: 44 degrees of freedom

Affects doorway clearance and operating space requirements

Sourced from official NASA JSC docs · Full Valkyrie (R5) specs →

Market context

Use cases and category landscape

A strong manufacturer page should explain where the lineup fits in the broader robotics market, including who these robots are for and how the surrounding category is moving.

Real-World Use Cases for NASA JSC Robots

Understanding how a robot fits into your specific situation is more important than any single specification. Here are the real-world scenarios where NASA JSC robots can make a meaningful impact.

Research and Education Platform

Academic and research teams need robot platforms that offer deep programmability, well-documented APIs, and active community support.

  • Research robots should provide access to raw sensor data, support standard robotics frameworks (ROS/ROS2), and offer simulation environments for algorithm development before deploying on hardware.
  • Consider the platform's track record in published research, available documentation, and whether the manufacturer provides academic pricing or grants.

Child Education and Development

Educational robots help children develop STEM skills, coding literacy, and social interaction capabilities.

  • The best educational robots combine engaging personality with genuine learning outcomes, offering age-appropriate programming interfaces and curriculum-aligned content.
  • Consider the robot's content library, parental controls, screen-time management features, and whether it offers progressive learning paths that grow with the child.

Not sure which type of robot fits your needs? Browse our categories guide or use the comparison tool to evaluate options side-by-side.

NASA JSC in the Robotics Industry

NASA JSC operates in the research robotics segment.

Research Market Landscape

Market Overview

Research robots serve as platforms for advancing the science of robotics, AI, and human-robot interaction. Used in universities, government labs, and corporate R&D departments, these robots prioritize flexibility, programmability, and access to low-level control over commercial polish. Many concepts proven on research platforms eventually find their way into consumer and commercial products.

NASA JSC competes in this space with Valkyrie (R5).

Key Industry Trends

Open-source hardware and software platforms accelerating collaborative research
Simulation-to-reality transfer learning reducing physical prototyping needs
Shared benchmark environments enabling fair comparison of research results
Cross-disciplinary collaboration between robotics, AI, and cognitive science
Increasing focus on safe human-robot interaction and ethical AI

Common Use Cases for Research Robots

Locomotion and manipulation research Human-robot interaction studies AI and machine learning algorithm development Multi-robot coordination experiments Assistive technology research and development

Buyer Considerations

Programmability and API access for custom research applications
Community size and support for the platform
Availability of simulation environments and digital twins
Modularity for attaching custom sensors and actuators
Publication and citation history demonstrating research utility

Future Outlook

Research robotics is becoming more accessible through lower-cost platforms and better simulation tools. The line between research and commercial robots is blurring as companies release developer editions of commercial products. Cloud robotics and shared datasets will accelerate the pace of discovery.

Systems

Capabilities, sensors, and connectivity

For serious buyers and researchers, the important question is how the stack hangs together: capabilities, sensing, and integration depth all need to read as a coherent system.

Connectivity & Smart Home Integration

How a robot connects to your network and integrates with your existing smart home determines how useful it will be in practice. NASA JSC's robot supports 2 connectivity technologies, and third-party integration.

Wired network connectivity providing reliable, high-bandwidth, low-latency communication for stationary or docked robots.

For buyers

Ethernet is used primarily by research and commercial robots that need reliable high-speed data transfer, particularly for streaming sensor data or receiving real-time control commands.

Wireless local network connectivity enabling remote control, cloud integration, over-the-air updates, and app-based management through your home or office network.

For buyers

Wi-Fi is the primary connection for most home robots, enabling app control, cloud AI features, voice assistant integration, and remote monitoring. Look for dual-band (2.4GHz + 5GHz) support for better reliability.

Third-Party Compatibility

ROS

Learn more about robot connectivity options in our connectivity components guide or browse the full components directory.

Positioning

Competitive posture and regional context

Manufacturer research is stronger when the page moves beyond specs and helps frame strategic position, regional ecosystem, and how the portfolio sits versus peers.

How NASA JSC Compares in the Market

How NASA JSC positions itself in the competitive landscape — beyond individual products.

Price positioning: NASA JSC does not publicly disclose pricing, which is typical for enterprise-focused robotics companies that customize solutions for each deployment. Contact-sales pricing usually indicates a higher-touch customer relationship and tailored support.

Category focus: NASA JSC is a specialist focused entirely on the research category. Category specialists often develop deeper expertise and more refined products in their focus area compared to multi-category companies that spread their R&D across different robot types.

Technology breadth: Across its product line, NASA JSC integrates 4 unique sensor types and 7 distinct capabilities. This technology stack determines the range of tasks and environments their robots can handle, and indicates the depth of the company's engineering investment.

Geographic context: Based in USA, NASA JSC benefits from its country's robotics ecosystem and talent pool. Regional context can affect pricing, availability, support quality, and regulatory compliance in different markets.

Market maturity: All 1 of NASA JSC's robot is commercially available, indicating a mature product portfolio focused on serving current customer needs.

Compare Side by Side

Use the comparison tool or browse the manufacturers directory.

Robotics in USA: Where NASA JSC Comes From

The United States is the global leader in robotics innovation, home to powerhouses like Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, and Tesla's Optimus program.

American robotics companies benefit from deep venture capital markets, world-class universities (MIT, Stanford, CMU), and a strong defense research ecosystem (DARPA). Silicon Valley and Austin have emerged as major robotics hubs, while traditional manufacturing regions are adopting collaborative robots at scale.

NASA JSC contributes to USA's robotics landscape with 1 model in the research category.

Key Strengths of the USA Robotics Ecosystem

Unmatched AI and software capability (leveraging proximity to big tech companies)

Deep venture capital and corporate investment in robotics startups

World-leading university robotics programs feeding talent into industry

Strong defense and government research funding through DARPA, NASA, and NSF

Large domestic market for both consumer and commercial robotics

Operations

Ownership planning and final takeaways

The page should close with practical ownership guidance, supporting editorial, and a concise summary so the route ends with momentum instead of fatigue.

Owning a NASA JSC Robot: What to Expect

Purchasing a robot is the start of an ongoing relationship with technology that requires setup, maintenance, and periodic attention.

Setting Up Your Robot

First-time robot setup varies significantly by category and complexity. Consumer robots like vacuums and lawn mowers typically involve downloading a companion app, connecting to Wi-Fi, and running an initial mapping or boundary setup routine. More complex robots like humanoids or quadrupeds may require professional installation, calibration, and training. Allow extra time for the first session — the robot needs to learn your space, and you need to learn its controls. Most modern robots improve their performance over the first few uses as their maps and AI models refine based on your specific environment.

Ongoing Maintenance Requirements

Every robot requires some level of maintenance to operate at peak performance. For cleaning robots, this includes emptying dustbins, washing filters, replacing brush rolls, and cleaning sensors — typically a few minutes per week. Lawn mowing robots need periodic blade replacements and seasonal cleaning. Legged robots may require joint lubrication and firmware updates. Check the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule and factor replacement part costs into your total cost of ownership. Establishing a regular maintenance routine significantly extends the robot's useful life and maintains cleaning or task performance over time.

Software Updates and Long-Term Support

Modern robots receive regular software updates that can add features, improve navigation, fix bugs, and enhance security. When evaluating any robot, consider the manufacturer's track record for software support — how frequently do they release updates, and for how long do they support older models? Some companies provide updates for years after purchase, while others may discontinue support sooner. Cloud-dependent features are particularly important to evaluate: if the manufacturer shuts down cloud services, will your robot still function? Prefer robots with strong local processing capability for long-term reliability.

Safety Considerations

Robot safety encompasses both physical safety (preventing collisions, falls, and injuries) and digital safety (data privacy, network security, camera access). Physically, look for robots with emergency stop mechanisms, collision detection, cliff sensors, and speed-limiting features when operating near people or pets. Digitally, understand what data the robot collects, where it is stored, who can access it, and whether the manufacturer has a clear privacy policy. For robots with cameras and microphones, hardware privacy indicators (LED lights when recording) and physical mute switches provide important transparency and control.

Warranty and After-Sales Support

Robotics purchases represent significant investments, making warranty terms and after-sales support critical evaluation criteria. Standard warranties in the industry range from one to three years, with some manufacturers offering extended warranty options. Beyond warranty length, consider what the warranty covers — some exclude consumable parts like brushes and filters. Also evaluate the manufacturer's service infrastructure: do they have authorized repair centers in your region? Is support available by phone, email, or chat? Response times and repair turnaround times can vary significantly between companies. User community forums and third-party repair guides can supplement official support.

Total Cost of Ownership

The sticker price of a robot is just the beginning. Total cost of ownership includes the initial purchase price, replacement parts and consumables, electricity for charging, any subscription fees for cloud or premium features, and potential repair costs. For commercial robots, add integration, training, and downtime costs. For consumer robots, factor in accessories like extra mop pads, replacement brushes, or boundary accessories. A thorough TCO analysis over the expected product lifetime — typically three to five years for consumer robots and longer for commercial platforms — provides a much more accurate picture of value than purchase price alone.

For model-specific ownership details, visit individual robot pages or contact NASA JSC directly.

Deployment Planning for NASA JSC Robots

Successful robot deployment depends on preparation that goes well beyond selecting the right model.

Readiness Assessment

At least one NASA JSC model carries an available or active status, indicating that procurement conversations can proceed with current product specifications rather than pre-release estimates.
No public pricing is currently listed for NASA JSC products in this database. Contact the manufacturer directly to request quotes, and ask for itemized pricing that separates hardware, software licensing, support, and integration costs.
The sensor suite across NASA JSC's lineup includes 4 distinct sensor types, suggesting meaningful perception capabilities. Validate sensor performance under your specific environmental conditions — manufacturer specifications typically reflect optimal rather than worst-case scenarios.
With 7 distinct capabilities documented across the product line, NASA JSC robots offer a broad feature surface. Prioritize capabilities that directly map to your operational requirements and treat additional features as secondary evaluation criteria.
1
Laboratory and research environment preparation

Research deployments require controlled conditions that differ from commercial settings. Verify that the lab space meets the robot's power requirements, including dedicated circuits for charging stations and any auxiliary computing hardware. Plan for motion capture or external sensor arrays if your research protocol requires ground-truth positioning data. Establish clear demarcation between the robot's active workspace and personnel areas, especially for platforms with manipulator arms or high-speed locomotion capabilities. Document the software development environment requirements, including supported operating systems, SDK dependencies, and network configurations needed for remote operation and data collection.

2
Network infrastructure and cybersecurity planning

Modern robots are networked devices that require thoughtful integration with existing IT infrastructure. Plan a dedicated network segment or VLAN for robot operations to isolate robot traffic from critical business systems. Implement certificate-based authentication where supported, and verify that firmware update mechanisms use signed packages. Establish a security review cadence for robot software components, especially for robots that process camera feeds, microphone input, or personal data. Create an incident response plan specific to robot compromise scenarios — what happens if a robot's navigation system is tampered with, or if sensor data is intercepted? These questions are easier to answer before deployment than during an active incident.

3
Operator training and workflow integration

Even highly autonomous robots require human operators who understand normal behavior, can recognize anomalies, and know when and how to intervene. Develop a training program that covers daily operations (startup, shutdown, charging), routine maintenance (cleaning sensors, checking mechanical wear), and emergency procedures (manual override, safe power-down, physical recovery from stuck positions). Integrate robot operations into existing workflow documentation so that robot tasks and human tasks have clear handoff points. Track operator confidence levels over time and provide refresher training when procedures change or new capabilities are deployed through software updates.

4
Performance benchmarking and acceptance criteria

Define measurable success criteria before the robot arrives. For cleaning robots, this might be coverage percentage and cleaning quality scores. For commercial service robots, track task completion rates, customer interaction quality, and mean time between interventions. For research platforms, establish reproducibility metrics and data quality thresholds. Having objective benchmarks prevents the common failure mode where a robot is judged impressive in demos but disappointing in sustained operation. Create a 30-60-90 day evaluation framework with specific milestones at each stage, and define clear decision points for scaling up, adjusting configuration, or discontinuing the deployment.

5
Long-term maintenance and total cost modeling

The purchase price of a robot is typically a fraction of the total cost of ownership over its operational lifetime. Model the full cost picture including consumables (filters, brushes, wheels, batteries), scheduled maintenance (sensor calibration, actuator inspection, firmware updates), unscheduled repairs (motor replacement, sensor failure, structural damage), and operational costs (electricity, network bandwidth, operator time). Request maintenance schedules and spare-part pricing from the manufacturer before purchase. For commercial deployments, calculate the break-even point against the labor or service cost the robot replaces, factoring in realistic uptime assumptions rather than manufacturer-stated maximums. Revisit the cost model quarterly as real operating data replaces initial estimates.

Deployment planning is iterative — capture lessons learned and refine your approach as you progress with NASA JSC products.

NASA JSC: Summary and Key Takeaways

NASA JSC is a USA-based robotics company with 1 robot tracked on ui44, focused on research robotics
Their robots integrate 4 sensor types, 7 capabilities, and 2 connectivity options across the product line
All 1 model is currently available for purchase or deployment, with pricing available on request
Notable capabilities span bipedal walking, object manipulation, uneven terrain navigation, tool use, and 3 additional features

Next Steps

Frequently Asked Questions

What robots does NASA JSC make?
NASA JSC has 1 robot in the ui44 database: Valkyrie (R5). These span the Research category.
Where is NASA JSC headquartered?
NASA JSC is headquartered in USA. Browse all manufacturers from USA or explore the complete manufacturers directory.
How much do NASA JSC robots cost?
NASA JSC does not publicly list pricing for its robot. This is typical for enterprise and research-focused robotics companies. Contact NASA JSC directly for quotes and availability.
Can I buy a NASA JSC robot today?
Yes — 1 NASA JSC model is currently available or actively deployed: Valkyrie (R5) (Active). Check each robot's page for the latest purchasing details.
What can NASA JSC robots do?
Across their product line, NASA JSC robots offer 7 distinct capabilities including: Bipedal Walking, Object Manipulation, Uneven Terrain Navigation, Tool Use, Autonomous Perception, Modular Limb Servicing, Wall Power or Battery Operation. See each robot's detail page for the full capability breakdown.
What sensors do NASA JSC robots use?
NASA JSC robots use 4 types of sensors including Carnegie Robotics Multisense SL (stereo, laser, IR structured light), Hazard Cameras (fore and aft), IMUs (2, in pelvis), Series Elastic Actuator Sensors. Visit the components directory to see how these compare across the industry.
How current is the NASA JSC data on ui44?
All robot data on ui44 is periodically verified against manufacturer sources. The most recent verification for a NASA JSC robot was on 2026-02-26. Each robot page includes a "last verified" date so you can gauge data freshness.

Data Integrity

All NASA JSC robot data on ui44 is verified against official manufacturer sources, spec sheets, and press releases. Most recent verification: 2026-02-26. If you notice outdated or incorrect data, please let us know — accuracy is our top priority.

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