ScienceDaily (Jun. 1, 2000) — Entering corrected equation rather than actual data into control system produces quicker task time

May 29, 2000 -- A well-calculated fib is proving highly useful when it comes to robots in space and could reduce the amount of time and effort needed to complete tasks during space missions, a U of T engineer has discovered.

Professor Christopher Damaren of the Institute for Aerospace Studies has devised a method to control vibrations and reduce deformations of robots assembling or repairing objects in outer space. By changing the mathematical calculations for robotic movement - or "lying" to the control system - he can decrease vibrations as robots move an object from one place to another.

These robots, he notes, are modelled after the human arm and are often required to manipulate objects much larger than the robot itself. This can put stress on the arm, leading to vibrations or deformations difficult for scientists and astronauts to control. "The result is it takes more time to complete a task because it takes more time to regain control of the arm."

Damaren's method involves entering a "corrected" equation into the system, rather than actual data. The work can then be accomplished more quickly, with fewer shuttle missions needed for repairs.

This research can be applied to the deployment and retrieval of objects from a space shuttle's cargo bay or capturing and de-spinning of satellites, notes Damaren, who co-authored the paper with Eftychios Christoforou of the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the University of Canterbury funded the study.

Related Stories

Robots - Our Helpers In Space (Nov. 30, 2004) — A big advantage of space robots is that they need neither food nor drink and can support very inhospitable conditions. More important still, although expensive to design and produce, their loss is ...  > read more

Exotic Technologies Finish Road Test On Cosmic Highway (Apr. 15, 1999) — NASA's Deep Space 1 mission has successfully demonstrated most of its exotic technologies in space -- including an ion engine that is expected to be 10 times more efficient than conventional ...  > read more

Goddard Technologist Proposes Sensitive High-tech Robot Skin (Jun. 8, 2005) — A NASA scientist has begun setting up a laboratory at NASA Goddard to develop a high-tech covering that would enable robots to sense their environment and react to it, much like humans respond when ...  > read more

Crayfish Robots On Mars? (Jan. 11, 2002) — Australian scientists are using a humble indigenous freshwater crayfish, known as the Yabby, as their inspiration to help build miniature robots for NASA's exploration of Mars. Platoons of ...  > read more

Search ScienceDaily

Battle of the 'Bots