FIRST STEPS AND PROSPECTS OF ASTRONAUTS PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT THROUGH SOCIAL ROBOTS

Тhe article states that space social robots for inter-ship activity including psychological support should have special look as it perform not only mechanical work but also communicates with cosmonauts. The requirements for such robots were formulated by Gagarin Research&Test Cosmonaut Training Center. It is obvious that trends in improvements of space robotics and limitations of humans during space operations lead in near future to perspective that robots will be more effective than humans and will start to replace them, The space robotics has several advantages, for example, they don't need food, hygiene stuff, don't tire or get emotions. Still robots have many limitation factors, like depends on energy suppliers, have very primitive intellectual capabilities, require frequent checkup of their functionality and maintenance. Though these factors will be diminished in near future, at present the most effective way to solve that problems is joint work of cosmonauts and space robots. For successful interaction human with robots in space it is important to align their psycho-physiological characteristics. Numerous studies of human-social robot interactions have been revealed that effective communications between them should be based on in-depth understanding of communicative process and appropriate behavior model. Authors describes the following advantages of robot-mediated psychological assistance - possibility to choose any convenient time for communication, its topic and duration. Robot could accommodate own "temperament" and "mood" settings in dependence of particular cosmonaut. It could take into account human preferences and momentary emotional state, communicate verbally as well as non-verbally. Then authors discuss several contemporary space robots - Valkyrie, Robonaut-2, Kirobo. SAR-400 and newly designed robot Andronaut from Neurobotics. Authors concludes that technological advances in near future will convert the space stations into “intellectual houses” for cosmonauts which could provide all necessary life support functions automatically while robots will serve as helpers in highly determined environment in daily basis. That will give to human space explorers more time for scientific research or creative work, but if required the robots will also provide psychological support to humans. Key words: communication, social robot, social space robotics, psychological support for astronauts, engineering psychology, internal ship and extravehicular activity, «Andronavt».

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