In DLR`s programmatic structure space robotics is a so-called core topic within the program theme “technology for space systems”. This core topic is basically subdivided into the following areas and “internal projects”:

• Programmatic goal:
  • Space robot (flight) missions and studies (supported by the national and European space agencies)
• Supporting technologies and methodologies:
  • lightweight robots
  • articulated hands
  • mechatronic components
  • space robot dynamics
  • tele-robotics / tele-presence
  • autonomy and skill transfer

Space robotics will become a key technology for the exploration of the outer space and the operation and maintenance of space stations, satellites and other platforms, saving costs and relieving man from dangerous tasks.

Because it is clear that there is no way to jump from zero experience to a fully operational, complex space robot system, we had proposed and realized ROTEX, the first remotely controlled space robot. The ROTEX system, that flew with shuttle COLUMBIA in April 93, successfully demonstrated that the main operational modes, important for space robots are tele-programming, sensor-based and shared autonomy, and on-line tele-operation from ground despite several seconds delay.

The experience gained with ROTEX laid an excellent basis for the subsequent projects and studies especially the remote control of the first free-flying space robot, Japan’s ETS VII. ROTEX (Germany, 1993) and ETS-VII (Japan, 1999) were pure experimental systems to show the principles of ground control under time delay constraints demonstrating the readiness of space robots for on-orbit servicing (OOS).

The COLUMBIA disaster caused NASA to decide that astronauts are no longer in discussion for repairing the Hubble telescope, instead either autonomous vehicles should bring it down to earth or robots, like Canada’s dexterous two-arm system developed for the space station, should be used to repair it. And in addition the first companies were founded recently who claim that now robotized servicing of geostationary satellites might become a big business in the coming years. So, we will outline here how the institute with its early contributions and the ongoing ROKVISS experiment  prepares itself to meet the challenges of the future, where On-Orbit-Servicing is becoming more and more important.

The video below shows most of DLR's space robotics activities

Windows Mediaplayer (10 MB) or Realplayer (10 MB)