Autonomous Operations for Space Robots

Abstract

Over the last two decades, the international space community has been discussing the merits of on-orbit servicing (OOS) of satellites. Because of the high cost and risk associated with the establishment of an on-orbit servicing infrastructure, OOS is not yet commonplace. The streamlining of operations is of vital importance to the economic viability of OOS. One of the technologies that will undoubtedly contribute greatly to the reduction of operations costs is on-board autonomy. The Canadian Space Agency is participating to a DLR-led mission called TECSAS whose objective is to demonstrate technologies that are key to the viability of OOS. A portion of the CSA’s contribution to TECSAS is the on-orbit demonstration of autonomous OOS operations. The technologies to be demonstrated by CSA during TECSAS include the Cortex toolbox for on-board autonomy software and the re-configurable ground control station developed under the Autonomous Robotics and Ground Operations (ARGO) framework.