Space automation and robotics activities past, present and future: Next steps for a robotics laboratory
An Automation and Robotics (A&R) laboratory is being developed at the National Aerospace Laboratory NLR. The laboratory is intended to be a testbed for harmonized ESA/Dutch operations technology. A number of activities related to (internal) A&R are reviewed. A reference scenario involving liquid sloshing experiments based on an external robot arm is analysed to suggest next steps for further developments. Remote utilization of robotics technology is emphasised.
Introduction to possible means of experiment operations on the space station
The present plans for space stations are evolutionary developments from Skylab, ASTP, Spacelab, and recently, MIR. Other forbears can be identified as well, and it is instructive to compare current designs with the drawings that appeared in magazines around 1950, when spaceflight first appeared feasible. The space station that is taken as the basis for the present report, is the complex that is to be realized in consequence of a political decision of the USA, Discussions between NASA, ESA and the Japanese are to determine the extent of a major International cooperation in this venture. Both in Europe (Columbus) and in Japan original designs exist, and plans independent of the USA have been mooted. The economic conditions of the partners have changed sufficiently since the beginning of the negotations that scope for reassessment of shares may exist. An important use of the space station is for scientific purposes. As such it can be likened to a multi-user facility, an institution with many representatives on earth. Thus, the scientific operation of the space station can be modelled after different examples. A capability explored on Spacelab Is the investigation of physical systems in mlcrogravlty. The effect of gravity on heat and mass transfer processes Is often profound and, because these processes are so ubiquitous, may have important applications in processing technology. The report is to clarify some attributes of the space station that are relevant to its realization. The choices of organisation structure and engineering paradigms have economic consequences. It is hoped that, as a corollary, promising workpackages can be identified for particular national or institutional capabilities.
On board image processing for telescience support
For realization of the telescience concept, remote control of instruments and experiments in space is required. Local image processing in experiment facilities may contribute in solving problems related to remote control based on visual information in the presence of communication constraints. A simulation set-up based on an optical diagnostic instrument breadboard, called TelePODI, is described. This simulation set-up is used to analyze the concept of on board image processing for telescience support. It is demonstrated that such processing may be a useful tool for: better information presentation, teleoperator support in instrument control, flexibility in instrument design and assistance in experiment evaluation.