Visitors, some with their dogs, line up to make their photo inside a space suit exhibit during the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) "TouchTomorrow" education and outreach event that was held in tandem with the NASA-WPI Sample Return Robot Centennial Challenge on Saturday, June 16, 2012 in Worcester, Mass. The NASA-WPI challenge tasked robotic teams to build autonomous robots that can identify, collect and return samples. NASA needs autonomous robotic capability for future planetary exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Astro is a robot dog operated by staff via remote control, is fitted with an infrared camera with 40 times zoom, utilizes thermography and a microphone and can navigate all three levels of the facility. The beloved robot conducts inspections to spare the employees ears in extremely loud environments. When not used, Astro lives in his doghouse in the facility and recharges. Photo Credit: (NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna)

Astro, the robot dog conducts inspections in building 64 to spare the employees ears in this extremely loud environment. The facility is extremely loud even with double hearing protection, so Glenn has come up with an alternative to keep the employees safe. Astro is operated by staff via remote control, is fitted with an infrared camera with 40 times zoom, utilizes thermography and a microphone and can navigate all three levels of the facility.

Visitors, some with their dogs, line up to make their photo inside a space suit exhibit during the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) "TouchTomorrow" education and outreach event that was held in tandem with the NASA-WPI Sample Return Robot Centennial Challenge on Saturday, June 16, 2012 in Worcester, Mass. The NASA-WPI challenge tasked robotic teams to build autonomous robots that can identify, collect and return samples. NASA needs autonomous robotic capability for future planetary exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

"Harry" a Goldendoodle is seen wearing a NASA backpack during the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) "TouchTomorrow" education and outreach event that was held in tandem with the NASA-WPI Sample Return Robot Centennial Challenge on Saturday, June 16, 2012 in Worcester, Mass. The challenge tasked robotic teams to build autonomous robots that can identify, collect and return samples. NASA needs autonomous robotic capability for future planetary exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)