# Episode 146: Embodied AI on the ISS - Jamie Palmer

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2026-02-27
- Length: 24m
- Episode: 146
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-27-episode-146-embodied-ai-on-the-iss-jamie-palmer
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-146-embodied-ai-on-the-international-space-station-jamie-palmer

## Summary

Jamie Palmer, co-founder and CTO of Icarus Robotics, explains how his company is building free-flying dexterous mobile robots to perform routine and risky tasks in low Earth orbit, starting with the ISS. Palmer details the engineering challenges of controlling a 20-degree-of-freedom robotic arm in microgravity, where moving an arm creates equal reaction forces that destabilize the base, requiring advanced flight control similar to underwater robotics. He highlights the role of recent AI breakthroughs, such as Google's RT-2 and Open X Embodiment, in enabling general-purpose manipulation models trained on teleoperation data, and outlines the company's path from remote testing to a 2027 mission with Voyager Space.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-27-episode-146-embodied-ai-on-the-iss-jamie-palmer#t=7) Introduction and Mission Overview
- [2:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-27-episode-146-embodied-ai-on-the-iss-jamie-palmer#t=161) Engineering Free-Flying Robots in Microgravity
- [6:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-27-episode-146-embodied-ai-on-the-iss-jamie-palmer#t=370) Testing Strategy: Parabolic Flights and Simulation
- [10:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-27-episode-146-embodied-ai-on-the-iss-jamie-palmer#t=642) The Impact of AI on Robot Dexterity
- [15:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-27-episode-146-embodied-ai-on-the-iss-jamie-palmer#t=914) Task Selection: Cargo, Inspection, and Maintenance
- [18:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-27-episode-146-embodied-ai-on-the-iss-jamie-palmer#t=1122) Modular Design for Astronaut Maintenance
- [20:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-27-episode-146-embodied-ai-on-the-iss-jamie-palmer#t=1227) Company Culture and Future Milestones

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Icarus Robotics (company)
- Google RT-2 (product)
- Open X Embodiment (product)
- Open Teleoperation (product)
- Pi 0 (product)
- NASA (company)
- Voyager Space (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Astro B (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Designing robot arms to survive lunar nights; Waymo 'no plans' to expand in Ariz.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-02-05-designing-robot-arms-to-survive-lunar-nights-waymo-no-plans-to-expand-in-ariz) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [201: Accidentally Incredibly Dangerous](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-24-201-accidentally-incredibly-dangerous) (Embedded.fm)
- [From Teleoperation to Autonomy: Inside Boston Dynamics' Atlas Training](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-09-12-from-teleoperation-to-autonomy-inside-boston-dynamics-atlas-training) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Ep059: Hydraulic Rockets & Presses, Machine Vision Bounces & Stares, Smart Speakers Listen to You](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-03-19-ep059-hydraulic-rockets-presses-machine-vision-bounces-stares-smart-speakers-lis) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Bonus Edition - 2023 RBR50 Review](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-21-bonus-edition-2023-rbr50-review) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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