An Introduction to the Concept of Robot Factors And Its Application to Space Station Automation

摘要

This paper addresses the basic operating considerations resulting from the unique environment of space along with those resulting from the current and projected state of Automation and Robotics (A&R) which will influence the initial layout and maintenance of the Space Station. In this paper, we introduce a concept called "robot-factors" which deals with the telerobot working environment and its organizational relationships with other robots. Robot factors are discussed in this paper from the point of view of the overall system architecture of the Space Station. That is, we present basic design considerations concerning the physical nature of the Space Station complex as well as those concerning the data management system. In many ways, robot factors is quite analogous to conventional human factors. The emphasis of the study is on making the robot's tasks safe and easy to perform. It is also on the concern of the telerobot's welfare in terms of that of other cooperating telerobots in the performance of a common task.