Welcome to the Space Systems Laboratory's dexterous robotics projects.
For the last 25 years, the University of Maryland Space Systems Laboratory
(SSL) has been developing and testing robotic systems capable of performing
complex end-to-end on-orbit spacecraft servicing tasks in a neutrally buoyant environment,
as well performing integrated testing of humans and robots working cooperatively
in the simulated space work site. This work has included the development
of seven integrated telerobotic systems capable of tasks such as docking,
assembly, inspection, maintenance, working with humans, and proximity
operations.
On these pages you will find some of the exciting robotics projects that
are currently underway in the SSL. Feel free to click on any of the projects
listed above for more information. You might also visit our "Ask
a Roboticist" page where you can submit a question to be answered
by one of our robotics engineers or you can browse through answers to
questions other visitors have asked. For an overview of the robotics work
we have done in the past and continue to do, check out or best
of gallery.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at .
|
What's New
Upcoming robotic tests:
[spring 06]
The SSL's space and robotics work is highlighted in "A Human Presence Across the Solar System," an article in the Engineering School's
spring 2006 issue of E@M Magazine.
[Dec 05]
The SSL's work in support of the Hubble Robotic Servicing/Deorbit Mission
was mentioned as part of the
Intelligent Systems group's year-end write-up
in the American Institute of Aeronatics and Astronautic's Aerospace
America.
[1 Oct 05]
Graduate students Mike Naylor and Nick Scott win first place at the Infotech@Aerospace
video competition in the "Most Innovative Other Vehicle or System" category.
[26-29 Sep 05]
Graduate students Mike Naylor and Nick Scott will present their work on vision systems and autonomy at
Infotech@Aerospace. Thet also entered a
video (5.6 Mb QuickTime) in a video competition. A version showing only the
1-g testing
and the neutral buoyancy testing is also online.
[19 Sep 05]
SSL robotics lab to be part of the dedication of the new
Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building. A
photo taken in our lab during the dedication is online.
[Jun/Jul 05]
Dr, Akin, Stephen Roderick, and Ranger appear in "Robo
Repairmen" in the June/July issue of
Air & Space Magazine.
[28 Jun 05]
The ASTEP software team repeats the 1-g work they have done and used Ranger in its extended version to autonomously grab a duck. A
video (2.5 Mb QuickTime) is online.
[20 May 05]
Ranger continues autonomy work underwater.
[6 May 2005]
Ranger was used as a platform to continue the SSL's investigation of human-robot
interaction. A foot plate was attached to Ranger's body which allowed
a diver simulating an astronaut as well as the SSL-developed Maryland
Advanced Research/Simulation
suit to work cooperatively with Ranger on the Hubble Space Telescope.
Photos from
the dive are online.
[8 Apr 05]
Photos from underwater calibrations of Ranger's cameras are online.
[29 Mar 05]
Ranger, the SSL, and Dr. Akin appear in "Robots in Space," a segment on PBS' The News Hour with Jim Lehrer
The Ranger Satellite Servicing System has undergone modifications to
more closely simulate Canada's Dextre robot so that it can simulate servicing of the
Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Dives have been conducted over the last month in its new wide-body format.
[21 Mar 05]
video highlight of underwater robotic servicing of HST (32 Mb QuickTime)
[29 Apr 05]
WF/PC II
[20 Apr 05]
aft shroud and equipment section doors
[22 Mar 05]
COSTAR/COS
[16 Mar 05]
COSTAR/COS
[14 Mar 05]
FGS-2R/FGS-2004
[9 Mar 05]
wide field camera
[8 Mar 05]
COSTAR
[2 Mar 05]
COS/COSTAR
[25 Feb 05]
wide field camera
[23 Feb 05]
system checks
[21 Feb 05]
system checks
[18 Feb 05]
left arm balancing
[17 Feb 05]
extended body checks
[28 Jan 05]
Ranger Satellite Servicing System autonomously grabs an object! Click here for more details.
[25-26 Jan 05]
Underwater footage of the Ranger Satellite Servicing System performing neutral buoyancy simulations of the servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope will appear on the Discovery Science
channel's
special "Hubble and Beyond: Telescopes in Space." Check out the episode's web page for more information.
[13 Dec 04]
The SSL's robotics work is mentioned in "Exploring hidden campus technology",
an article in The Diamondback, the campus newspaper.
[Fall 2004]
University of Maryland President Dr. Mote updates alumni about some of the research on campus including the work the SSL is doing for the HST robotic servicing mission.
Watch the video.
The Ranger Satellite Servicing System has undergone modifications to
simulate Canada's Dextre robot so that it can simulate servicing of the
Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Eleven dives have been conducted over the
last month and photos from the dives are online.
[30 Nov 2004]
-V2 battery conduit
[24 Nov 2004]
-V2 battery conduit
[12 Nov 2004]
video highlight of underwater robotic servicing of HST (5.8 Mb QuickTime)
[12 Nov 2004]
aft shroud door opening
[4 Nov 2004]
+V2 battery conduit
[29 Oct 2004]
Wide Field Camera removal and insertion
[28 Oct 2004]
Wide Field Camera removal and insertion
[22 Oct 2004]
aft shroud door opening and axial instrument removal
[21 Oct 2004]
aft shroud door opening
[20 Oct 2004]
aft shroud door opening
[19 Oct 2004]
two extended dexterous arms with an extended leg
[19 Oct 2004]
extended right dexterous arm with an extended leg
[13 Oct 2004]
extended positioning leg
[8 Oct 2004]
extended right dexterous arm
[18 Aug 2004]
Photos from the Ranger Satellite Servicing System manipulation the
Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera III are online.
[29 Jul 2004]
Ranger Satellite Servicing System manipulates a Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera III.
Photos are online.
[16 Jul 2004]
Ranger Satellite Servicing System removes a Hubble Space Telescope axial instrument from a protective enclosure.
Photos are online.
[30 Jun 2004]
Ranger Satellite Servicing System grasps and maneuvers a mock-up of the Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Camera in the Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility.
A "best of" photo is online along with
all of the photos taken during the test.
[11 Jun 2004]
Neutral buoyancy evaluations of the Ranger right dexterous arm and positioning leg
photos are online.
[7 Jun 2004]
Ranger mentioned in "Hubble's Hope: I, Robot,", an article in Time magazine.
[24 & 27 May 2004]
Ranger left and right dexterous arms perform tasks at the Navy Research
Laboratory's Proximity Operations Test Facility. A 3 minute video (35 Mb QuickTime) and two time lapse clips
of the test are online: clip
#1 (2 Mb QuickTime) and clip
#2 (2.5 Mb QuickTime). Photos are also online.
What's new archive
|