The Astrobee free-flying robots, developed in and managed by the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/intelligent-systems-division" target="_blank">NASA Ames Intelligent Systems Division</a>, were setup for the second session to test an autonomous rendezvous algorithm and assist the ground team in monitoring Astrobee performance of autonomous robotic rendezvous with a tumbling target. The Relative Operations for Autonomous Maneuvers (ROAM) tests demonstrate processes for a robotic craft to rendezvous with debris in space. Space debris includes satellites that could be repaired or taken out of orbit; but many of these objects are tumbling, which makes rendezvous and docking challenging. ROAM uses the International Space Station’s (ISS) Astrobee robots to observe and understand how targets tumble and uses this information to plan ways to safely reach them.Adaptations to Astrobee's localization system enabled successful tumbles of a target Astrobee, providing sufficient tumble stability for an autonomous rendezvous pipeline to be used. Multiple "full pipeline" tests were conducted, including successful complete rendezvous tests. Other, unsuccessful rendezvous tests will be used to analyze algorithm performance in the presence of challenging localization and computational constraints. The primary test objectives were fully met over a total of 20 tests. Secondary objectives were partially met; "full pipeline" tests over the most challenging configuration options were not performed, though validation for the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystem custom estimator (EKF) and for robust control were. This activity concludes the ROAM investigation, which has demonstrated successful on-orbit rendezvous with unknown tumbling targets. Future work will extend robustness guarantees and overall algorithm reliability, particularly in the face of localization and computational limitations.BACKGROUND: The Astrobees are next-generation free-flying robots that operate in the interior of the ISS. Their primary purpose is to provide a flexible platform for research on zero-gravity free-flying robotics, with the ability to carry a wide variety of future research payloads and guest science software. They also serve utility functions: as free-flying cameras to record video of astronaut activities, and as mobile sensor platforms to conduct surveys of the ISS. They were developed under the Human Exploration Telerobotics 2 (HET2) project and are currently managed by the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/astrobee" target="_blank">Astrobee Facility</a> project.The HET2 project demonstrates how telerobotics — robots remotely operated by astronauts or ground controllers — can be used to perform a variety of routine, highly repetitive, dangerous, and long-duration tasks. The primary goal of HET is to improve NASA’s understanding of the requirements, benefits, limitations, costs, and risks of integrating telerobotics into future deep-space exploration missions.

The Astrobee free-flying robots, developed in and managed by the NASA Ames Intelligent Systems Division, were setup for the second session to test an autonomous rendezvous algorithm and assist the ground team in monitoring Astrobee performance of autonomous robotic rendezvous with a tumbling target.

Astrobee Successfully Demonstrates Rendezvous Between Robotic Craft and Space Debris

A praying mantis for the moon, Mars and meteorites: the mantis-like robot "Mantis" is said to be able to independently explore planets and build an infrastructure with its claws. The hardware and software are developed by scientists from the Robotics Innovation Center at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the University of Bremen.&nbsp;Thanks to his bio-inspired body and various running patterns, he will master steep craters and boulder fields as well as manipulate with his front legs.&nbsp;By learning from his experiences, he should be able to act purposefully.&nbsp;The LIMES project that has just started is being funded with around 3.7 million euros by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).&nbsp;The term is four years.&nbsp;LIMES stands for “Learning Intelligent Motions for Kinematically Complex Legged Robots for Exploration in Space”. The name of the robot is borrowed from the mantis, which belongs to the mantis order.&nbsp;The robot morphology will be similar to that of the natural model: the system should not only be able to use the two front of its six legs to walk, but also to grab objects.&nbsp;To do this, it lifts its upper body – like the praying mantis. "The challenge is to learn running patterns for different ground conditions in which all six legs work in unison despite different tasks," explains Prof. Dr.&nbsp;Frank Kirchner, head of the DFKI Robotics Innovation Center and the Robotics working group at the University of Bremen.&nbsp;The many joints, distributed over several legs, enable many different movement patterns.&nbsp;In this way, the robot can adapt its posture to the circumstances – and maneuver safely in unfamiliar terrain. Robot selects situationally from its "behaviour library" The aim of the project is to give the robot algorithms for different walking modes.&nbsp;These can be designed for energy-saving or careful movement.&nbsp;Mantis senses stumbling blocks, craters and hills with tactile sensors that he wears in his soles.&nbsp;Using a camera in his head, he creates a 3D image of the environment.&nbsp;The data is transmitted to earth by satellite.&nbsp;The human instructs the robot which destination to head for.&nbsp;"Based on the data, Mantis selects the appropriate walking pattern from its so-called behavior library.&nbsp;It recognizes obstacles and then avoids them of its own accord,” says Sebastian Bartsch, DFKI computer scientist and project manager.&nbsp;After each action, the robot evaluates its decision.&nbsp;“For example, he asks himself: Was my energy use good?&nbsp;If not, he will act differently in a similar situation in the future,” says Bartsch. The movement patterns are pre-learned in simulations that simulate extraterrestrial conditions: gravitation, lighting conditions, gradients. Real tests follow in the DFKI's space exploration hall, a 288 square meter test site with an artificial crater landscape.&nbsp;

Inspired by the mantis: Robot "Mantis" will not only be able to walk with its front legs, but also to manipulate.

A praying mantis for the moon, Mars and meteorites: the mantis-like robot "Mantis" is said to be able to independently explore planets and build an infrastructure with its claws. 

The Praying Mantis As A Model - Six-Legged Robot To Build Infrastructure On Celestial Bodies

James Webb Space Telescope aims to take us to the unexplored realm of our cosmic origins. From observing the formation of the first stars and galaxies to looking for the possibility of life on other planets, the telescope will play a major role in the future of space exploration.

James Webb Space Telescope Science Instruments Explained

In this episode, we talk about NASA’s new packable solar sail for deep space travel, how to prevent cyber attacks by fixing memory vulnerabilities, and how flying robots could be the solution to our space trash problem. As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.&nbsp;<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/5a764f3e-d71a-4b7c-83f6-79119deb4e29?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe><h3 id="isPasted">EPISODE NOTES</h3>Take a few seconds to leave us a review. It really helps!&nbsp;<a href="https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2</a> if you do it and send us proof, we’ll give you a shoutout on the show.(0:50) - Deployable Solar Sail:Solar sails are a great alternative to traditional propulsion for deep space travel since it only depends on sunlight as its power source. Recent advances in material science have allowed NASA engineers to develop a solar sail as big as an apartment that can pack itself into a toaster sized satellite.&nbsp;(8:00) - Advancing System Security:&nbsp;The increasing number of hacks (e.g. Colonial Pipeline) has reignited the pursuit of robust cybersecurity measures and a group of Columbia researchers are offering a no-overhead approach to prevent the most critical system vulnerability: memory attacks.(14:40) - Cleaning Space Trash:&nbsp;Space trash poses a threat against space missions because even the smallest debris can fatally-damage a spacecraft. Embry-Riddle students &nbsp;partnered with NASA to develop solar sail-powered robots capable of gathering trash and burning it in the atmosphere.--About the podcast:Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;To learn more about this show, please visit the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.Be sure to give us a follow and review on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!

Illustration showing the solar sail beginning to unfurl after deployment of the spacecraft’s solar arrays. Credits: NASA

In this episode, we talk about NASA’s new packable solar sail for deep space travel, how to prevent cyber attacks by fixing memory vulnerabilities, and how flying robots could be the solution to our space trash problem.

Podcast: Solar Sailing, Preventing Cyber Attacks, Space Trash Robot

The Spacebit Engineering Challenge enables engineers around the world to contribute to the development of “Asagumo 2.0”, a four-legged walking rover that is set to fly to the Moon with the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program in 2021 and 2022.Spacebit is a UK-based space startup developing space robotic technology and space data analytics tools for space exploration that includes advanced micro robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Their approach to engineering is to deliver competitive cost solutions for the exploration of celestial bodies.Spacebit's goal is to create new opportunities for industry, academia, and government, advancing the future development of a new infrastructure and commercial resource exploration ‘offworld’ - &nbsp;beginning with the Moon.The company's micro-rover technologies and rover deployment systems are designed to carry scientific payloads in support of the Artemis Program space exploration and research goals. Spacebit is the only commercial company to secure two consecutive NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) delivery missions to the Moon in 2021. Spacebit is one of the first commercial lunar companies that plans to fly on every NASA CLPS delivery on the market.Future versions of the rover would be sent to explore tubular cave structures – subsurface tunnels, believed to have been formed by ancient basaltic lava flows – to see if they are viable locations in which to build future lunar habitats for human presence on the moon.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QSGFL4W1guk?&amp;feature=emb_title&amp;ab_channel=SpacebitCompany&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 788px; height: 406px;"></iframe><h2 dir="ltr">Contribute and get your name on the Moon</h2>Over the next several weeks Spacebit will invite the Wevolver community in an open format, for inputs and ideas on various engineering challenges as they develop new rover designs and technologies for space-based applications, beginning with the Moon. The technical feedback will be used to help improve and iterate Spacebit’s technology.The engineering inputs will be assessed and the most valuable contributors will be rewarded by having their name engraved on the Asagumo rover before it launches on its maiden journey to the Moon. Additionally, the winning engineer will be invited to the control room in the UK or US; or, participate in Spacebit’s remote Robotic Operations &amp; Control Center (ROCC). <div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIzMzMzNTM3MDkwLVNwYWNlYml0LTZiLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The winner of the challenge will have their name engraved on the rover and be invited to the launch control room. Image credit: Spacebit/Wevolver.<h2 class="fr-img-space-wrap2">Asagumo</h2></div>Asagumo is a semi-autonomous micro rover built on a single-unit CubeSat frame, usually used for micro &nbsp;satellites. The &nbsp;rover weighs just 1.3 kilograms, is solar-powered and instead of wheels or tracks, is equipped with four spider-like legs. Mission 1 is a tech demo mission where Asagumo is equipped with sensors and camera technology; the rover will attempt to walk for ≤10 meters on the lunar surface, sending data back to Earth. The goal is to eventually explore the moon’s subsurface through the labyrinth of lunar lava tubes and caves. Because of its four legs rather than wheels or tracks, the rover has an advantageous design to explore parts of the Moon other rovers &nbsp;cannot reach.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIzMjUzNTcyMTE4LVNwYWNlYml0LTEuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A small square gold rover robot with four black spider-like legs.">The Asagumo micro rover is built on a single-unit CubeSat frame. Image credit: Spacebit.&nbsp;<h2 class="fr-img-space-wrap2">How to contribute?</h2>Joining the discussion is simple. On Wevolver's social media channels, we will share regular updates regarding the progress of the project. Spacebit will ask for feedback on engineering challenges they have on which you can comment and engage with. To make sure you stay in the loop, follow their company profile on <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/spacebit" target="_blank">Wevolver</a>.We're excited to see your feedback, and look forward to seeing the first Wevolver community member inscribed on the Moon!

Contribute to the development of a four-legged walking rover that is set to fly to the Moon with NASA in 2021 and 2022.

The Spacebit Engineering Challenge

Yıldız Rover is an interdisciplinary student project with the main goal of building a robotic system that can search for organic and inorganic living conditions in space. It also aims to encourage people who are interested in space and robotics to go further, creating a sociable workspace for young engineers.In other words, Yıldız Rover Team is actually a group of students who are studying at Yıldız Technical University located in Turkey, determined to make their voice heard. The team members study in a variety of departments such as Mechanical, Electrical, Metallurgical and Chemical Engineering in addition to Chemistry, Physics, and Bioengineering.What are they doing though, like right now?Yıldız Rover Team is currently building their own Rover, designed by its members, with great excitement and devotion. They have been working for the last four months and will probably be working for the next eight too, nonstop, getting ready for the European Rover Challenge (ERC).ERC is an internationally recognized annual robotics competition for students, graduates and researchers that takes place in Poland. During the competition, every team runs their own rover, attempting to reach the standards of actual ESA and NASA missions in the biggest artificial Mars field ever made on Earth.Yıldız Rover team was refounded in 2020, starting with the obligation of working apart due to the pandemic; but never letting the situation affect their motivation or efficiency. Team members are divided into five subteams in order to make better progress within each field: mechanics, electronics, software, science and organization. The first step was to educate the recruits on their respective fields, organizing online programs on several subjects. The rest escalated pretty quick. Wheels of the rover and the gripper for the robotic arm were the first parts to get their final versions, the body designed according to the Rocker Bogie mechanism and the suspension system following right after. Software team developed a mechanism using LIDAR which locates the surroundings and repositions the rover when approaching an obstacle. Electronics designed a switch mode power supply with multiple outputs while the science team keeps going with their research on biology, geology, organic chemistry; basically every sub-discipline of science that exists.Linkedin:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/yildiz-rover-team/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/yildiz-rover-team/</a>

European Rover Challenge Press Kit https://roverchallenge.eu/en/main-page/

A rover team with the members from Istanbul's Yildiz Technical University have finished the design of their Mars Rover and they are now in process of prototype production for the preparation of European Rover Challenge that will take place in Poland, September 2021.

space robots

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Astrobee Successfully Demonstrates Rendezvous Between Robotic Craft and Space Debris

The Praying Mantis As A Model - Six-Legged Robot To Build Infrastructure On Celestial Bodies

James Webb Space Telescope Science Instruments Explained

Podcast: Solar Sailing, Preventing Cyber Attacks, Space Trash Robot

The Spacebit Engineering Challenge

Yildiz rover team are preparing for european rover challenge

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