Steve Hankins

About

Steve Hankins is a pioneering figure in space robotics, best known for his foundational contributions to the development and ground testing of robotic manipulator systems for the International Space Station (ISS). His key research areas encompass space station automation, dexterous manipulation, and on-orbit servicing technologies. Hankins’s most notable work, "Design of a SPDM-like robotic manipulator system for Space Station on orbit replaceable unit ground testing - an overview of the system architecture" (2002), has garnered 6 citations and remains a critical reference for engineers designing robotic systems for orbital maintenance. In this seminal paper, he detailed the architecture of a ground-based testbed that emulated the Canadian-designed Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM), enabling the safe and efficient simulation of on-orbit replaceable unit (ORU) removal and insertion tasks. This work directly supported the ISS’s international joint development project, involving the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Hankins’s contributions have had a lasting impact on space robotics, providing a blueprint for ground validation of complex robotic systems and ensuring the reliability of autonomous maintenance in the harsh environment of space.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Design of a SPDM-like robotic manipulator system for Space Station on orbit replaceable unit ground testing - an overview of the system architecture

   6 citations · 2002

Key Collaborators

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