System of Systems for Space Construction

Abstract

The U.S. National Vision for Space Exploration calls for a sustained and affordable human and robotic program to explore the solar system, starting with a human return to the Moon by 2020. Key to this vision is the development of robotic systems for site preparation, habitat construction, deploying infrastructure, and repair in space and on Lunar and planetary surfaces. This paper discusses a system of systems approach to the development of these capabilities, and includes some preliminary experimental studies of multi-robot surface construction operations with the JPL robotic construction crew (RCC).