Innovative Robot Archetypes for In-Space Construction and Maintenance

Abstract

The space environment presents unique challenges and opportunities in the assembly, inspection and maintenance of orbital and transit spaceflight systems. While conventional Extra‐Vehicular Activity (EVA) technology, out of necessity, addresses each of the challenges, relatively few of the opportunities have been exploited due to crew safety and reliability considerations. Extra‐Vehicular Robotics (EVR) is one of the least‐explored design spaces but offers many exciting innovations transcending the crane‐like Space Shuttle and International Space Station Remote Manipulator System (RMS) robots used for berthing, coarse positioning and stabilization. Microgravity environments can support new robotic archetypes with locomotion and manipulation capabilities analogous to undersea creatures. Such diversification could enable the next generation of space science platforms and vehicles that are too large and fragile to launch and deploy as self‐contained payloads. Sinuous manipulators for minimally invasive inspection and repair in confined spaces, soft‐stepping climbers with expansive leg reach envelopes and free‐flying nanosatellite cameras can access EVA worksites generally not accessible to humans in spacesuits. These and other novel robotic archetypes are presented along with functionality concepts.