Space Robotics & Autonomous Systems
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UK-RAS White papers © UK-RAS 2018 ISSN 2398-4414 Space Robotics & Autonomous Systems: Widening the horizon of space exploration www.ukras.org // Space Robotics & Autonomous Systems Space Robotics & Autonomous Systems // UKRAS.ORG // Space Robotics & Autonomous Systems FOREWORD SPACE ROBOTICS AND AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS Welcome to the UK-RAS White Paper explore and ultimately to work and live in annual updates for these white papers so Series on Robotics and Autonomous space are major drivers of the sector. The your feedback is essential - whether it be Systems (RAS). This is one of the core technologies developed in space RAS are pointing out inadvertent omission of specific activities of UK-RAS Network, funded by major enablers to a wide range of manned areas of development that need to be the Engineering and Physical Sciences and unmanned space missions. Space covered, or major future trends that deserve Research Council (EPSRC). By bringing RAS is unique, sharing many common further debate and in-depth analysis. together academic centres of excellence, challenges with terrestrial RAS yet facing industry, government, funding bodies and distinctive design and environment Please direct all your feedback to white- charities, the Network provides academic constraints. I hope the vision and technical [email protected]. We look forward to leadership, expands collaboration with roadmap outlined by the authors will inspire hearing from you! industry while integrating and coordinating future research, promote collaboration, and activities at the EPSRC funded RAS capital identify key areas of future growth in this facilities, Centres for Doctoral Training and fascinating area of RAS. partner universities. The UK-RAS white papers are intended In this white paper, a comprehensive to serve as a basis for discussing the overview of space RAS is provided, future technological roadmaps, engaging covering historical developments and the wider community and stakeholders, technological evolution over the years. as well as policy makers in assessing the The UK has extensive expertise and potential social, economic and ethical/legal Prof Guang-Zhong Yang, FREng facilities in space RAS. Our ambition to impact of RAS. It is our plan to provide Chair, UK-RAS Network Yang Gao Daniel Jones Roger Ward Elie Allouis Aron Kisdi Professor of Space Autonomous Space Robotics SRC - UK Lead, Avionics and Robotics Product Robotics and Mission Systems Robotics Systems Engineer, Systems, Director of FAIR-SPACE UK Space Agency. Manager, Thales Alenia Space Ltd. Engineer, Future Programmes, Autonomous Systems Group, National Hub, Head of STAR Lab, Airbus Defence RAL Space, STFC. and Space Ltd. University of Surrey. on behalf of the UK-RAS Network and the FAIR-SPACE Hub established to provide academic leadership, expand collaboration with industry while integrating and coordinating activities at EPSRC funded RAS capital facilities, Centres for Doctoral Training, RAI Hubs for extreme environments, and partner universities. Space Robotics & Autonomous Systems // CONTENTS 2 Introduction 4 History and Technology Evolution 6 Technical Goals and Challenges 8 UK Strengths & Capabilities 14 Opportunities & Benefits 16 References 1 // Space Robotics & Autonomous Systems Robotics already plays a key role in space exploration and exploitation, supporting both manned and un- manned missions. When coupled with increasingly capable autonomous and intelligent systems, robotics will enable yet more audacious exploration of our solar system whilst also reducing the cost and increasing the use of space to manage our Earth's resources and monitor our environment. Professor Sir Martin Sweeting Executive Chair, SSTL Space Robotics & Autonomous Systems // 2 1. INTRODUCTION Space robotics and autonomous systems (or Space RAS) magnitude increase in ground support. Given the potential play a critical role in the current and future development reduction to the cost and risk of spaceflight both manned of mission-defined machines that can survive in the space and robotic, space RAS are deemed relevant across environment, and performing exploration, assembly, all mission phases such as development, flight system construction, maintenance, or servicing tasks. Modern production, launch and operation. space RAS represents a multi-disciplinary field that builds on as well as contribute to knowledge of the space engineering, Space RAS covers all types of robotics for surface terrestrial robotics, computer science as well as many exploration or in orbit around the moon, planets or miscellaneous subjects like materials and IT. other small bodies such as asteroids. It covers sensors and platforms for mobility and navigation as well as for Space RAS are important to the ability of humans to explore deployment of science instruments in space. Orbital robots or operate in space, by providing greater access beyond can be envisaged for repairing satellites, assembling large human spaceflight limitations in the harsh environment of space telescopes, capturing and returning asteroids, or space and by providing greater operational handling that deploying assets for scientific investigations, etc.Surface extends astronauts’ capabilities. Autonomous systems are robots play a key role in the surveying, observation, capable of reducing the cognitive load on humans given the extraction, close examination of extra-terrestrial surfaces abundance of information that has to be reasoned upon (incl. natural phenomena, terrain composition and in a timely fashion, hence are critical for improving human resources), constructing infrastructures on a planetary and systems’ safety. RAS can also enable the deployment surface for subsequent human arrival, mining planetary and operation of multiple assets without the same order of resources, or in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) etc. Space Robotics Design drivers, Sensing & perception Mission planning H/W & S/W Harness Bionics requirements, Mobility & locomotion Machine learning System engineering Advanced Material specifications... Navigation Soft computing Space qualifications IT Space Terrestrial Computer Space Miscellaneous Science Robotics Science Engineering Subjects FIGURE 1. Space RAS, a multi-disciplinary emerging field 3 // Space Robotics & Autonomous Systems Depending on these applications (either orbital or planetary), can help human astronauts to perform tasks quickly and space robots are often designed to possess mobility (or safely, with higher quality and cost efficiency using semi locomotion) to manipulate, grip, rove, drill and/or sample. to fully autonomous operation. Some future missions will Driven similarly by the nature of the mission and distance require the co-working between the robotic assistants and from the Earth, these robots are expected to possess astronauts to achieve goals that would not be possible varying level of autonomy, ranging from tele-operation without such a collaboration; or 3) robotic explorers that by human to fully autonomous operation by the robots are capable of exploring unknown territory in space using themselves1. Depending on the level of autonomy, space fully autonomous operation. Coordination or cooperation robots can act as 1) robotic agents (or human proxy) in between autonomous robotic explorers is also envisaged space to perform various tasks using tele-operation up to within multi-robot missions to enable complex tasks such as semi-autonomous operation; or 2) robotic assistants that cave exploration, construction and resource extraction. 1 Level of autonomy onboard spacecraft defined by European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS): Level E1: execution mainly under real-time ground control, i.e. remote or tele-operation. Level E2: execution of pre-planned mission operations onboard, i.e. automatic operation. Level E3: execution of adaptive mission operations onboard, i.e. semi-autonomous operation. Level E4: execution of goal-oriented mission operations onboard, i.e. fully autonomous operation. FIGURE 2. Applications and mission scenarios of space RAS, from orbital to inter-planetary [courtesy FAIR-SPACE Hub]. Space Robotics & Autonomous Systems // 4 2. HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY EVOLUTION The need for humans to explore beyond the realm of where the astronauts would be operating as well as to the Earth is driven by our inherent curiosity. Throughout further explore our solar system. our history, new worlds have been discovered by daring explorers who set out, find riches or better understand Across the existing robotic missions, a range of mobility or these little-known territories. These journeys were fuelled locomotion systems has played a significant role, including by the technological advances of the times such as the the surface rovers, robotic arms or manipulators, subsurface compass, maritime maps or plane, and in return contributed samplers and drills. Table 1 summarizes the missions and tremendously to the scientific knowledge of humankind. robots successfully flown on Earth’s orbit, the Moon, Mars, and small bodies. Outer space has provided real, new exploration frontiers for mankind since the 1950s. With the capability and The first genuine robotic mobility system successfully the irresistible attraction to go beyond our planet Earth, operated on an extra-terrestrial body was a scoop (i.e., a minimizing the impact of mankind on other extra-terrestrial manipulation cum sampling device) onboard the Surveyor 3 bodies (be it a planet, a moon, a comet or an asteroid) is lander launched in 1967 to the Moon.