DLR's ROBOTICS LAB - RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN SPACE ROBOTICS

Abstract

The paper gives an overview of DLR's latest developments and project experience in space robotics. From the technology point of view, progress in the design and development of light weight robots and articulated multifinger-hands as well as in the refinement of IILR's sensor-based, task level teleprogramming system MARC0 (and its virtual reality concept) is reported. In addition DLR's experiences with NASDA's free flying space robot ETS VI1 in terms of sensor-controlled ground programming and dynamic robot-satellite interaction are outlined. Ongoing laboratory experiments towards free flying space robots (ESS) are supposed to prepare the basis for a European or German free-flyer project. And the design of endeffector technologies and ground control concepts for the robotic part of EuTEF on the International Space Station are fully underway.