ROBOTICS FOR ASSEMBLY, INSPECTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF SPACE MACROFACILITIES

Abstract

complex, sometimes fragile and often less accessible than the satellites and space stations of today. The need is for AIM robots to assemble, inspect, and maintain such facilities, but significant technical challenges exist. This paper profiles early results towards extensive, constrained, and humanoid approaches to AIM robots. Like the visionary facilities these robots will enable, visionary AIM robots call for their own significant development campaign.