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At least 451 records · Page 25

Problems and concepts of space station guidance, navigation, and control

The Space Station System is defined as a network of space and ground assets which work together to support a variety of missions including commercial missions, science and applications missions, and technology development missions. The elements of the Space Station System include a Space Station Base, Space Platforms, Free Flyers, a Teleoperator Manuevering System (TMS), Orbital Transfer Vehicles (OTV), Orbiter Berthing Equipment, and Ground Support Equipment and Facilities. Guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) subsystem requirements are considered along with configuration trades.

Guha, A. K.↗

Human factors technology for America's space program

NASA is initiating a space human factors research and technology development program in October 1982. The impetus for this program stems from: the frequent and economical access to space provided by the Shuttle, the advances in control and display hardware/software made possible through the recent explosion in microelectronics technology, heightened interest in a space station, heightened interest by the military in space operations, and the fact that the technology for long duration stay times for man in space has received relatively little attention since the Apollo and Skylab missions. The rationale for and issues in the five thrusts of the new program are described. The main thrusts are: basic methodology, crew station design, ground control/operations, teleoperations and extra vehicular activity.

Montemerlo, M. D.↗

Rendezvous and docking with remote piloted vehicles

The man-in-the-loop control system requirements for the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) are examined. Since many similarities exist between the Teleoperator Retrieval System (TRS) and the unfolding OMV concept, a review of the TRS control system baseline along with selected design trades which led to that baseline are discussed. TRS program issues relevant to the man-in-the-loop control system design include thruster size, communication delays and TV bandwidth compression, range/range rate radar, tumbling targets, shimmed docking interface, and control system definition. A TRS vs. OMV simulation comparative study is summarized, and the major issues currently facing the control system designer on OMV are discussed.

Micheal, J. D.↗

Shuttle/Centaur Upper Stage Capability

A joint project to design, develop, procure, and produce Centaur upper stages for use with the Space Shuttle is discussed. A common Centaur G stage 6 meters (19.5 feet) in length is being jointly developed. A longer version designated Centaur G Prime is being developed by NASA to accomplish the Galileo and International Solar-Polar Mission flights in 1986. The Centaur G and G Prime will have the capability to place, respectively, approximately 4540 kilograms (10,000 pounds) and 5910 kilograms (13,000 pounds) into geosynchronous orbit from a standard Shuttle parking orbit of 278 kilometers (150 nautical miles) and Shuttle performance (lift) capability 29,500 kilograms (65,000 pounds). The advent of high energy upper stage capability in 1986 will permit space users and spacecraft developers to utilize spacecraft growth, stage combination concepts with storage modules, teleoperator systems, and other mission peculiar devices to satisfy complex mission demands. These capabilities should greatly enhance the usefulness of the space environment and stimulate mission planners toward conception of innovative means to meet ever increasing mission requirements.

Clark, H. J.↗

Analysis of remote operating systems for space-based servicing operations. Volume 2: Study results

The developments in automation and robotics have increased the importance of applications for space based servicing using remotely operated systems. A study on three basic remote operating systems (teleoperation, telepresence and robotics) was performed in two phases. In phase one, requirements development, which consisted of one three-month task, a group of ten missions were selected. These included the servicing of user equipment on the station and the servicing of the station itself. In phase two, concepts development, which consisted of three tasks, overall system concepts were developed for the selected missions. These concepts, which include worksite servicing equipment, a carrier system, and payload handling equipment, were evaluated relative to the configurations of the overall worksite. It is found that the robotic/teleoperator concepts are appropriate for relatively simple structured tasks, while the telepresence/teleoperator concepts are applicable for missions that are complex, unstructured tasks.

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NASA space station automation: AI-based technology review

Research and Development projects in automation for the Space Station are discussed. Artificial Intelligence (AI) based automation technologies are planned to enhance crew safety through reduced need for EVA, increase crew productivity through the reduction of routine operations, increase space station autonomy, and augment space station capability through the use of teleoperation and robotics. AI technology will also be developed for the servicing of satellites at the Space Station, system monitoring and diagnosis, space manufacturing, and the assembly of large space structures.

Firschein, O.↗

NASA space station automation: AI-based technology review. Executive summary

Research and Development projects in automation technology for the Space Station are described. Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technologies are planned to enhance crew safety through reduced need for EVA, increase crew productivity through the reduction of routine operations, increase space station autonomy, and augment space station capability through the use of teleoperation and robotics.

Firschein, O.↗

Space station automation study. Automation requirements derived from space manufacturing concepts. Volume 1: Executive summary

The two manufacturing concepts developed represent innovative, technologically advanced manufacturing schemes. The concepts were selected to facilitate an in depth analysis of manufacturing automation requirements in the form of process mechanization, teleoperation and robotics, and artificial intelligence. While the cost effectiveness of these facilities has not been analyzed as part of this study, both appear entirely feasible for the year 2000 timeframe. The growing demand for high quality gallium arsenide microelectronics may warrant the ventures.

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Ninteenth Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium

The proceedings of the 19th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium are reported. Technological areas covered include space lubrication, bearings, aerodynamic devices, spacecraft/Shuttle latches, deployment, positioning, and pointing. Devices for spacecraft docking and manipulator and teleoperator mechanisms are also described.

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Eye directed view

This paper presents the concept of extended intelligence and describes modifications to a commercially available automaton, using state-of-the-art technology, that demonstrates the practical use of extended intelligence. The natural inclination of an operator to look beyond the boundaries of a work scene as presented on a video monitor is used to command the pan and tilt of television cameras. In a teleoperator system, this capability allows the natural expansion of a work scene without burdening the operator with either a trivial cerebral task or a time consuming motor task. The automaton is unobtrusive, allows complete operator freedom, and approaches full dependability of command response with minimal operator orientation.

Goode, P. W.↗

The role of robotics in space system operations

The role of automation and robotics in support of man's activities in space is discussed, with emphasis given to satellite servicing functions on board the NASA Space Station (SS) or at remote locations. Consideration is given to four satellite servicing mission scenarios, including: low-earth-orbit (LEO) servicing of satellite in situ or on the Space Station following orbital transfer by means of an Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV); in situ servicing of a free-flying coorbiting materials processing platform; repair/refurbishment of Space Station payloads of substations; an in situ servicing of geostationary satellites by means of an Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV). The potential applications of three different automation technologies are examined, including: teleoperation; robotics; and artificial intelligence. Consideration is also given to the potential applications of the Space Station data system in support of servicing activities. A list of the more common terms of automation technology is provided.

Meissinger, H. F.↗

Space station automation study: Automation requriements derived from space manufacturing concepts,volume 2

Automation reuirements were developed for two manufacturing concepts: (1) Gallium Arsenide Electroepitaxial Crystal Production and Wafer Manufacturing Facility, and (2) Gallium Arsenide VLSI Microelectronics Chip Processing Facility. A functional overview of the ultimate design concept incoporating the two manufacturing facilities on the space station are provided. The concepts were selected to facilitate an in-depth analysis of manufacturing automation requirements in the form of process mechanization, teleoperation and robotics, sensors, and artificial intelligence. While the cost-effectiveness of these facilities was not analyzed, both appear entirely feasible for the year 2000 timeframe.

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Space station automation study: Automation requirements derived from space manufacturing concepts. Volume 1: Executive summary

The electroepitaxial process and the Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits (chips) facilities were chosen because each requires a very high degree of automation, and therefore involved extensive use of teleoperators, robotics, process mechanization, and artificial intelligence. Both cover a raw materials process and a sophisticated multi-step process and are therfore highly representative of the kinds of difficult operation, maintenance, and repair challenges which can be expected for any type of space manufacturing facility. Generic areas were identified which will require significant further study. The initial design will be based on terrestrial state-of-the-art hard automation. One hundred candidate missions were evaluated on the basis of automation portential and availability of meaning ful knowldege. The design requirements and unconstrained design concepts developed for the two missions are presented.

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The human role in space: Technology, economics and optimization

Man-machine interactions in space are explored in detail. The role and the degree of direct involvement of humans that will be required in future space missions are investigated. An attempt is made to establish valid criteria for allocating functional activities between humans and machines and to provide insight into the technological requirements, economics, and benefits of the human presence in space. Six basic categories of man-machine interactions are considered: manual, supported, augmented, teleoperated, supervised, and independent. Appendices are included which provide human capability data, project analyses, activity timeline profiles and data sheets for 37 generic activities, support equipment and human capabilities required in these activities, and cumulative costs as a function of activity for seven man-machine modes.

Hall, S. B.↗

Space telerobotics - A few more hurdles

In the early 1990's, a telerobotic work system which can be used with the Mobile Remote Manipulator System (MRMS) on the Space Station is to become available. However, a number of difficulties have to be overcome before these plans can be realized. The word 'telerobotics' is used in connection with a system which can function as teleoperator, and which, in addition, has also autonomous functions. Thus, as a robot, the system would automatically perform selected operations using multisensory internal feedback for control. A role for telerobotics is defined, taking into account EVA servicing and repair work, remote satellite refueling, and operations during the Space Station development period. Attention is also given to the definition of a telerobotic system, the definition of the telerobotics technology set, and approaches related to the development of a telerobotic system.

Pennington, J. E.↗

An Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle simulator

The Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) is a teleoperated vehicle designed to dock with a target vehicle in space to peform certain tasks. This vehicle is not yet in production, but a simulator of the OMV is located at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The MSFC facility provides a realistic simulation of the OMV. Various docking maneuvers can be studied in some detail. A special robot has been constructed that provides a moving target for the simulator to dock with. This facility is valuable for conducting studies on the OMV; it also is excellent for personnel training.

Teoh, W.↗

Design for a goal-oriented telerobotic system

Robotic systems will play an increasingly important role in space operations. This paper describes the objective and design of a proposed goal-oriented telerobotic system for space operations. This design effort encompasses the elements of the system executive and user interface, and the distribution and general structure of the knowledge bases, the displays, and the task sequencing. The objective of the design effort is to provide an evolutionary structure for a telerobotic system, i.e., one that can progress from strictly teleoperated through phases of serving as an assistant, a colleague, and an expert, to eventually serve as a truly autonomous unit, requiring only minimal supervision. A preliminary design for such a system involving 'mixed initiative', or the flexible shared control between the human operator and the software system, is complete and described in this paper.

Will, R. W.↗

Space Station and technology experiments

The space technology experiments to be performed on the Space Station are discussed. The characteristics of the dual keel Station, which contains modules for habitation, logistics, and laboratories, applicable to technology experiments are described. Experiments utilizing the initial Space Station design include: (1) assessing the instrumented Space Station, (2) the testing of spacecraft materials and coatings, and (3) a microelectronics data system experiment; the objectives and procedures for these studies are examined. With increases in the number of modules, and electrical power and OTV capabilities, the evaluation of teleoperated techniques, the development and testing of a diversified antenna near- and far-field measurement facility, the study of cryogenic propellant transfer, and storage, and the implementation of a large concentrator in space are possible; descriptions of these proposed experiments are provided.

Breckenridge, R. A.↗