Aiaa space automation and robotics images
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Robots assisting astronauts, servicing ISS and assembling
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Space and Missiles
By Erik Komendera, Jian-Feng Shi and Gardell Gefke|December 2019
The Space Automation and Robotics Technical Committee works to advance the development of automation and robotics technologies and their applications to space programs.
In June, “Bumble Bee” became the first of three Astrobee robots to fly under its own power in space. The Astrobees are designed to operate inside the International Space Station using electric fans for propulsion and computer vision for navigation. The robots can be equipped with a small arm that allows them to grasp handrails or carry small items to perform tasks, such as inventory, sensor surveys and mobile camera work.
Early this year, the Satellite Servicing Projects Division’s Restore-L, which will robotically inspect, refuel and relocate a satellite not designed to be serviced, completed its space
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Expanding the final frontier with robots
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Space and Missiles
By Chuck Sullivan, Samantha Chapin and Ou Ma|December 2024
The Space Automation and Robotics Technical Committee works to advance the development of automation and robotics technologies and their applications to space programs.
It was a rollercoaster of a year for robotics, with major investments and achievements, along with some unexpected events.
With a plethora of lunar landers in development, rovers for exploration are a major focus. At NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration project in January completed construction and testing of its rovers. Also that month, Lunar Outpost of Colorado announced plans to land a third rover on the lunar surface, aboard an Intuitive Machines lander. In July, NASA announced the cancellation of VIPER, the Volatiles Inspecting Polar Exploration Rover mission, b
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Launch of Perseverance rover caps 2020 in space robotics
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Space and Missiles
By ERIK KOMENDERA, JIAN-FENG SHI AND GARDELL GEFKE|December 2020
The Space Automation and Robotics Technical Committee works to advance the development of automation and robotics technologies and their applications to space programs.
The Mars 2020 uppdrag launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida in July with the Perseverance rover and the Ingenuity helicopter headed to Mars to land in the Jezero Crater. Perseverance is based on the Curiosity rover but with several upgrades, adding about 50% more payload. It also can collect and cache samples for a future return mission. Ingenuity is a flight demonstrator that will be the first attempt at controlled flight on another planet. At 1.8 kilograms and with carbon fiber blades that spin at 2,400 rotations per minute, Ingenuity is designed to operate in an atmosphere that is less than 1% as dense as