Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Samantha Chapin is pioneering the future of large-scale space infrastructure through her groundbreaking work in robotic in-space assembly (ISA) and servicing. Her research centers on developing autonomous robotic systems capable of constructing massive orbital structures—such as the Built On-orbit Robotically assembled Gigatruss (BORG)—that are far too large to launch in one piece. Chapin’s major contributions include a mixed assembly architecture trade study for BORG (2023, 5 citations), which systematically compares deployable versus robotically assembled approaches, and a force-controlled pose optimization method for chained Stewart platforms (2023, 3 citations), enabling precise, high-strength robotic manipulation in microgravity. Her most recent work, a ground robotic demonstration of BORG (2024, 2 citations), validates these concepts in a physical testbed, proving that her novel assembler robots can autonomously construct truss structures with the stiffness and precision required for next-generation space telescopes, solar power stations, and orbital habitats. Chapin’s research directly addresses the critical bottleneck of current deployable structures, offering a scalable, modular path to building kilometer-scale assets in orbit. Her work is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of autonomous construction beyond Earth.