NASA is one of the world's top scientific organizations, but that doesn't preclude it from harnessing the power of the crowd, and its 'Robotic Arm Challenges' show just that. The America space agency teamed up with 'Freelancer', an online freelancing platform, to search out the best ideas from freelance designers around the world.
The Robotic Arm Challenges are so named because of the initial challenge proffered by NASA. Designers were asked to come up with original ideas for a robotic arm that would be used on NASA's Astrobee, a new generation of free flying robots on the International Space Station. After closing that initial run, NASA saw such impressive results that it opted to run further contests, having since included challenges for things like radiation shield designs and more.
Robotic Arm Challenges
NASA's 'Robotic Arm Challenges' Crowdsource Freelance Designers for Science
Trend Themes
1. Online Freelancing - Bringing online freelancing platforms into scientific research and development projects to utilize a pool of diverse talents around the world for innovation opportunities.
2. Crowdsourcing - Expanding crowdsourcing efforts to break through the traditional innovation models by incorporating public participation, reducing research and development cost and increasing work efficiency for innovation opportunities.
3. Robotics Innovation - Encouraging innovation in robotics design by initiating open-source challenges and contests competitions to inspire diverse teams and experts for disruptive robotics technological progress.
Industry Implications
1. Space Technology - Innovation opportunities can be captured by integrating crowdsourced freelance talents to design and develop space and aerospace technology for easier, faster, and safer space exploration.
2. Product Design - The implementation of crowdsourcing and open innovation can break traditional boundaries for product design innovation opportunities and generate more ideas and concepts for various manufacturing industries.
3. Scientific Research and Development - Collaborations with freelance designers and open innovation initiatives and challenges can unlock disruptive innovation opportunities and faster scientific research and development for scientists, researchers, and institutions.