English/Japanese

Space robot

A new space robot system, the gIntra-Vehicular Free-Flyer System (IVFFS)h is proposed. The IVFFS has mobility similar to that of the PSA, and can also perform manipulation. This makes it capable of carrying out both contact and non-contact tasks. As the robot is teleoperated from the ground, it will be possible to perform space activities around the clock. Furthermore, we introduce an IVFFS concept robot named gSpace Humming Birdh (SHB). SHB has a variably structured body to satisfy both safety and dexterity requirements. To perform prolonged contact-type manipulation, the robot is equipped with a locking device consisting of a suction disk attached to the tail. The suction device can attach to any flat surface. Several experiments involving a newly developed prototype model on a planar micro-gravity simulator are performed to confirm the feasibility of our concept. In the experiments, flying control and the proper procedure for wall-docking motion are introduced. Point-to-point motions, the wall-docking motion, a door-opening task and a detaching motion are performed.

 

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Fig. 1 Intra-Vehicular Free-Flyer

 

Fig. 2 Space Humming Bird

 

Fig. 3 Experimental Set-up

 

References

  1. Y. Tsumaki, M. Yokohama, D. N. Nenchev, Intra Vehicular Free-Flyer System, Proceedings of the 2003 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, pp. 2547-2552, 2003.
  2. Yuichi Tsumaki, Mami Yokohama, Predictive Motion Display for Acceleration Based Teleoperation, Proceedings of the 2006 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pp. 2927-2932, 2006.
  3. Yuichi Tsumaki and Ikumi Maeda, Flying Control for an Intra-Vehicular Fee-Flyer, Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation in Space (i-SAIRAS'08), Los Angeles, California, 2008.
  4. Yuichi Tsumaki and Ikumi Maeda, Intra-Vehicular Free-Flyer with Manipualtion Capability, Journal of Advanced Robotics, No. 24, No. 3, pp.343-358, 2010.

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