14 Researchers in the US have developed robots that can service satellites in orbit, writes Nick Flaherty. The team at the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Naval Centre for Space Technology (NCST) developed and tested the suite of robot hardware and software over the last seven years. The Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) Integrated Robotic Payload (IRP) will be integrated with Northrop Grumman’s spacecraft bus, the Mission Robotics Vehicle (MRV), for launch in 2026. “Our algorithms team developed machine vision, position control, collision avoidance, and compliance control algorithms that support robotics control and enable autonomous grapple capabilities,” said William Vincent, the RSGS programme manager. Engineers tested all aspects of the payload, including avionics, cameras and lights, and demonstrated all operations, including launch-lock deployments, calibrations and tool changing. The test verified SpaceWire comms and robotic compliance, and visual servo control. Two robot arms with seven motors each give seven degrees of freedom for the repairs. Dr Glen Henshaw, NRL senior scientist for robotics and autonomous systems, says: “Satellites are the only expensive equipment we buy that can’t be repaired in the field. We intend to demonstrate we can upgrade and repair these valuable assets using robots.” Space Robot care for orbiting satellites Platform one December/January 2025 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Silicon Sensing Systems is to supply a miniature gyro for a mission to Mars, writes Nick Flaherty. Two of the CRM200 gyros will be used by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) for use in the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission being run by the Japanese space agency, JAXA. This mission will travel to Mars and the two gyros will be used in a 25 kg rover vehicle that will explore the larger of its moons, Phobos. The rover is being developed by DLR and the French CNES research agency to collect samples ready for the return to Earth. The Pinpoint gyros will be used to detect any unintended movements of the rover on the unknown surface. Depending on the initial checkout of the collection, the spacecraft will return to Earth carrying the material from Phobos. The current schedule has a launch date in 2026, followed by a Martian orbit insertion in 2027, returning to Earth in 2031. Space Mini gyro will explore Phobos moon drivetrain, which includes the gyros, an optional safety module will be activated in the software to automatically prevent instability during the rover’s drive sessions. The 5 mm x 6 mm Pinpoint single-axis gyros are hermetically sealed in a ceramic LCC surface-mount package for temperature and humidity resistance with integrated temperature sensor. The gyros have successfully completed total iodising dose (TID) testing at 17kRad Radiation and Proton tests (up to 68 MeV proton) for use in space. The gyro uses a micromachined sensor to precisely measure angular rate with a low bias instability (12º/hr) over a short integration period of under 1 s. The dynamic range is selectable at 75º/s, 150º/s, 300º/s and 900º/s. After observation and sample The MMX rover with the E-Box, where locomotion electronics including CRM200s are installed (Image courtesy of DLR) Robotic arms for satellite repair (Image courtesy of US Navy/Sarah Peterson)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mzk4