MAROKO133 Hot ai: Space factory: German firm to test 3D-printing solar panels in orbit by

📌 MAROKO133 Eksklusif ai: Space factory: German firm to test 3D-printing solar pan

Dcubed GmbH, a leader in deployable space structures and In-Space Manufacturing (ISM), recently announced its move into space-based energy systems. 

The Germany-based company has been developing the ARAQYS system for the direct in-orbit manufacturing of solar arrays.

To demonstrate this technology, the firm is working on the ARAQYS-D3 mission set for a Q1 2027 launch on a SpaceX Rideshare mission organized by Maverick Space Systems.

The mission will demonstrate a 2kW solar array manufactured in space, specifically designed to support power beaming and directed energy applications.

If successful, the technology could serve the huge power needs of the booming space economy, including data centers, high-speed travel, and defense constellations.

“The ARAQYS-D3 satellite will demonstrate how in-space manufacturing and large-scale economic power generation can unlock a new class of small satellites—capable of generating, storing, and transmitting the energy required for the next generation of orbital missions,” said Chris Biddy, CEO of Astro Digital, a Colorado-based firm designing this mission’s satellite. 

Solar power solution

In recent years, SpaceX and Rocket Lab have advanced space access by drastically lowering costs and boosting payload capacity for getting things into orbit.

This advancement has unleashed a wave of next-generation applications in space, including orbital data centers, high delta-v transportation systems, direct-to-device communications, and defense constellations.

But these technologies are collectively constrained by a requirement for massive, affordable, reliable, and scalable power.

Currently, solar power remains the overwhelming choice for Earth-orbiting spacecraft due to unimpeded sunlight. But it faces design drawbacks: solar panels and their supporting structures are heavy and must be carefully stowed for launch.

These constraints introduce further design challenges, requiring complex, weighty mechanisms for in-orbit deployment.

The ARAQYS system aims to revolutionize space power by offering a complete range of solutions, including traditional deployable arrays, proprietary in-space-manufactured kW solar arrays, and eventual Space Power Plants capable of energy beaming.

It is intended to lower the cost per kilowatt, which, in turn, will lay the foundation for future space infrastructure and directed-energy platforms.

Two missions planned for 2026

Reportedly, the in-space manufacturing system utilizes a highly compact, flexible, ultrathin soft solar blanket that unrolls in orbit.

At the same time, a 3D printer creates a rigid back structure directly onto the array membrane. The resin cures rapidly and hardens under the strong UV radiation in space.

The ARAQYS-D3 follows two precursor missions scheduled for launch on separate SpaceX rideshare missions in 2026. 

The first includes a 3U satellite tasked with manufacturing a 60 cm (2 ft) boom in free space, and the second, which will print and deploy a 1-meter (3 ft) ISM solar array aboard Exotrail’s SpaceVan.

These foundational demonstrations will help validate the in-space power generation building blocks, thereby paving the way for the success of ARAQYS-D3’s larger multi-kilowatt-class system.

Dcubed is positioning itself as the category leader in space power solutions with ARAQYS, promising to deliver affordable, scalable, and unlimited energy in orbit.

The production of the ARAQYS-D3 spacecraft and its solar array will be a bi-continental effort, taking place at Dcubed’s facilities in Munich, Germany, and Berthoud, Colorado, USA. Subsequently, the launch integration will be handled by Maverick Space Systems in San Luis Obispo, California.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com

📌 MAROKO133 Hot ai: Viral: China’s humanoid-like ‘spy robot’ caught on camera near

A viral video clip on the social media platform X in India has sparked intense speculation, showcasing a human-like robot likely doing patrolling duties on the India-China border.

The 34-second video clip was allegedly filmed at high altitude by Indian soldiers, claiming China deployed it to patrol the borders. The Chinese “spy robot” was spotted standing still at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), raising concerns about possible robotic surveillance by China.

Despite online speculation, neither side’s defense authorities has issued an official statement.

Details on the viral clip

The video starts with the camera zooming in on a still, upright object resembling a robot. Then, the videographer panned the camera across the barren land, suggesting that the structure is part of China’s security setup in the border zone.

The viral clip has sparked discussion of China’s accelerated push into advanced military technologies, particularly in autonomous surveillance systems and humanoid robotics. If independently verified, the claims could signal a significant shift in the tools and strategies employed for modern border monitoring.

A peek at the discussions

In the comments, opinions varied, with some Indian nationals claiming the object indeed looked like a robot.

A verified X user asked Grok to authenticate the truthfulness of the news. The AI assistant claimed the video could be wrongly attributed, stating there were no confirmations from reliable sources regarding this possibility.

“No confirmed reports from reliable sources like SCMP or Reuters of Chinese humanoid robots patrolling the India border. Recent news points to UBTech’s Walker S2 deployment on the China-Vietnam border for patrols starting Dec 2025. The video shows indistinct figures; could be misattributed,” Grok said.

One user refuted the claims, stating that the stationary object was a “simply fixed platform with cameras,” with an image of what the object might look like.

China’s advancements in military robotics

The clip went viral at a time when China had publicly announced it would use humanoids for crowd control at the China-Vietnam border. Shenzhen-based UBTech Robotics recently put pen to paper on a contract to supply its latest models for a testing project near the border.

UBTech made headlines last month after shipping out a batch of its Walker S2 robots, an industrial-grade robot unveiled in July 2025. The robots are engineered with a battery-swapping system that enables them to replace their power packs without human assistance.

More robots on the way

According to reports, the robot fleet is scheduled for deployment beginning in December 2025, extending beyond border checkpoints to key industrial zones. In these areas, the units will conduct inspections across steel, copper, and aluminum facilities.

The initiative underscores a broader national push to integrate multipurpose robots to reduce repetitive labour and improve operational efficiency across both state-owned and private enterprises.

Meanwhile, the confusion persists because the viral footage overlaps in timing with UBTech’s announcements of humanoid patrol robots.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com