Architectural Concepts Employing Co-Robot Strategy and Contour Crafting Technologies for Lunar Settlement Infrastructure Development

Abstract

A lunar base development strategy that simultaneously employs robots and humans in a safe, effective and economic manner is depicted in this USC School of Architecture and School of Engineering design project done in the Spring of 2012, under the banner of the graduate Moon Studio. Real time telerobotic systems are proposed as an economically viable strategy for lunar base buildup operations. Co-robots are robotic systems designed and operated in real time using telerobotics, to directly support a variety of complex activities which require human supervision. Use of co-robots will allow real time correction of anomalies, separate and protect humans from a number of risky EVA scenarios, and speed up building processes. The strategy is also applicable for complex construction projects here on Earth, especially in the erection and deployment of critical structures, forward base camps and outposts, where human exposure to building activity is deemed hazardous. Elements depicted include the design of a permanent lunar landing and lift off pad for repeated crew and cargo/logistics sorties, a transport infrastructure linking the landing pad to the habitat zone, a dust free platform to erect habitat elements, components and configuration of an early phase lunar habitat for six crew members, and a variety of design elements to ameliorate lunar dust effects in the vicinity of this complex. The lunar base complex is seen as the critical foothold for developing a larger permanent settlement. Some architectural concepts developed in the graduate Moon Studio that propose various lunar settlements and activities are depicted. Eventually, it is the aim of this project to utilize this technology on a large scale here on Earth for complex building projects as well as economic buildup of cities and projects in remote or hazardous regions of the globe using humans primarily in a supervisory role, thereby reducing hard labor, associated fatigue and accidents, while improving overall efficiency of the building process.