Chevrolet has launched a robot into space aboard the spaceship Endeavor which features the future technology likely to be included on its cars of the future.

The Robonaut 2, or R2 is designed to assist astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) with everyday tasks and features new sensor and vision technologies used to create safer cars.

The robot has been developed in association with NASA and General Motors.

The sophisticated sensors being tested in space and used by the robot to interact with the space station are also the type of sensors which will be included on Chevrolet’s cars of the future.

GM also wants to use the robot technolgy at its car production factories to perform more dexterous and "mundane" tasks during the building process on the production line.