The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) Systems Engineering Effort - A cost effective approach to Systems Engineering

Abstract

The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) has presented its designers with a number of new challenges in performing the Systems Engineering effort required for a complex robotic system. The SPDM Program has been started, then was stopped and finally restarted under the harsher environment than the one for which it was originally designed. The SPDM incorporates previously space-qualified components, and has bee build under a Firm Fixed Price contract This combination of components of various pedigree, coupled with the constraints imposed by an FFP contract have been addressed by the designers through the definition of a novel approach to integrated Systems and Design Engineering.