A Canadian robotics firm has unveiled a new humanoid robot designed for use in space environments where traditional two-armed systems may face limitations.

In a teaser video, Orbit Robotics showcased its new HELIOS robot suspended in a testing rig, revealing a lightweight black chassis and an intricate network of cable-driven pulleys and joints.

Unlike the bulky, rigid actuators commonly used in industrial robots on Earth, HELIOS uses a more flexible mechanical design. “After two semesters of intense work, research, and iteration, this is what we have to show. 4 arms. 4 hands. 1 vision. 1 dream,” reads the video description on YouTube.

According to Orbit, the system is designed to improve movement and dexterity in zero-gravity environments for tasks such as satellite servicing and space construction.

Four-armed spacebot

HELIOS is a four-armed humanoid robot designed specifically for orbital operations and microgravity environments. According to its website, the company says the robot is being developed to assist astronauts with repetitive maintenance and cargo-handling duties aboard future space stations and orbital facilities.

Unlike humanoid robots built for Earth, HELIOS abandons the traditional focus on legged locomotion. ORBIT says legs have limited value in microgravity, where movement relies more on grabbing surfaces and stabilizing the body than walking. Instead, HELIOS uses a four-arm architecture that allows it to move through station interiors, anchor itself during operations, and carry out complex manipulation tasks simultaneously.

The robot’s design, teased in a video shared online, shows a skeletal black chassis suspended in a testing rig. Close-up shots highlighted an intricate tendon-driven mechanical system that differs significantly from the rigid industrial actuators commonly seen in terrestrial robotics.

According to the company, HELIOS places its motors near the shoulder joints to reduce moving mass and improve efficiency. Force is transmitted through cables and spools that drive the arm joints, creating a lightweight and compliant structure suited for delicate operations in space. The elbow features a rolling-contact joint designed to provide smooth, low-friction movement while maintaining both strength and flexibility.

Next orbital systems

ORBIT says the robot is intended to support astronauts by handling routine operational tasks, freeing crews to focus on scientific research and exploration.

The company estimates that astronauts currently spend around 35 percent of their time on maintenance-related tasks. A single cargo unloading cycle aboard a space station can reportedly consume nearly 50 hours of crew time, while astronaut labor costs are estimated at roughly $140,000 per hour.

The company’s long-term goal is to create robotic systems capable of supporting full orbital operations, beginning with cargo and inventory management before expanding into broader maintenance and infrastructure tasks.

Alongside HELIOS, the firm is also developing IKARUS, its first operational robotics platform used for teleoperation, imitation-learning experiments, and rapid hardware iteration. Built in just two months, IKARUS serves as a testbed for autonomous task development, manual robot control, and full-stack robotics engineering.

According to Orbit, the platform is being used to refine bimanual manipulation capabilities and develop the technologies that could eventually power a fully operational humanoid robot for space missions.