Manipulation Systems
Space manipulation systems are designed to complement/replace astronauts in some of the activities they do in orbit, such as handling of space hardware (e.g. install, assemble, connect), inspection and transport. The use of manipulation systems allows:
- preventing danger to humans (hostile environment !)
- performing tasks too difficult for astronauts (large masses, high precision and repeatability, large durations)
- concentrating astronauts on tasks they do best and avoiding boring / time consuming / expensive (routine handling of experiment logistics) tasks
- performing tasks which would not be attempted by humans for reasons of safety/costs (e.g. geostationary servicing)
Uses of Manipulation Systems
The most known Manipulation Systems are the big robot arms employed on the NASA Shuttle and on the International Space Station (ISS). Many other Manipulation Systems have also been proposed for other Orbital Applications, such as the EuTEF and EUROBOT manipulation systems, still for the ISS and the GSV arms for Geostationary Servicing. There have been however examples of robot arms also in Planetary Exploration. The 2 NASA Viking landers had robot arms equipped with a scoop to sample Martian soil. The British Beagle II lander, part of the ESA Mars Express mission, had a small robot arm.
Developments at the A&R Section
The A&R robotics section is currently developing a robot arm, called "DEXtrous robot ARM (DEXARM)" to be used as basic component for manipulation systems. DEXARM is intended to be used for the EUROBOT system. DEXARM will mount at its wrist a Compact Tool Exchange Device (CTED). CTED is also subject of an ESA development.
