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.
Experiments with remote visual access and on-line space services
Based on an analysis of previous telescience related activities a number of topics are discussed requiring further work from a utilization technology point of view:
flexibility in data handling, remote use of high performance digital cameras, data networking and user
workstations for remote operations based on visual feedback
The development of a liquid antihistaminic preparation with sustained release properties.
The relative capacity of several cation exchange resins to adsorb methapyrilene has been determined by an in vitro method. It was demonstrated that methapyrilene adsorbed on sulfonic acid cation exchange resin possessed pharmacological activity approximating that of a solution of methapyrilene hydrochloride as measured by the protection against histamine-induced asthma in the intact guinea pig. It is suggested that the use of ion exchange resins as carriers of drugs in liquid dosage forms may be useful in sustained release preparations.