ISS/JEM crew-task analysis to support astronauts with intra-vehicular robotics

Abstract

This paper proposes employing robotics and automation technology to manned spaceflight to manage repetitive activities for the crew. Current operations on the International Space Station (ISS) were analyzed to better determine target tasks for automation. Crew tasks on the ISS are precisely planned by the ground control and planning teams and then monitored and documented. In this study, astronauts’ tasks related to JAXA’s Japanese Experimental Module were analyzed based on their task names and categorized to determine consistently occulting, repetitive types of work. Based on the categorized tasks’ durations, three categories were anticipated for future automation: sample and equipment retrieval (swapping), logistics (cargo handling), and monitoring. This paper discusses automation methods for each category based on JAXA’s ground and in-orbit robotic research and development.