Deep Space Technologies - Robotic Probes
- 5 years ago
A space probe is a robotic spacecraft that does not orbit Earth, but instead, explores further into outer space. A space probe may approach the Moon; travel through interplanetary space; flyby, orbit, or land on other planetary bodies; or enter interstellar space.
The space agencies of the USSR (now Russia and Ukraine), the United States, the European Union, Japan, China, India, and Israel have collectively launched probes to several planets and moons of the Solar System, as well as to a number of asteroids and comets. Approximately 15 missions are currently operational.
A robot is defined as a self-controlled device consisting of electronic, electrical or mechanical units that can function in place of a living agent.
Robots play a vital role in exploring the hostile environment of outer space. Besides the Earth, the Moon is the only celestial body that humans have stepped on. However, advancements in research are making it possible for robotic missions to reach space faster and gather more information than humans. Robots don’t get tired, can operate in airless environment and do not get bored or distracted, making them superior to humans in a lot of ways.
Space robots are of various sizes and shapes, which include robot arms, (e.g. the Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator System; rovers - Sojourner; landers - Mars Pathfinder; atmospheric probes - Huygens Titan probe; orbiters - Galileo; and planetary flyby probes - Voyagers 1 and 2).
In general, all space robots have the same components that include a power supply, controller, actuators, sensors and radio communication unit. These sensors collect information about the robot and its environment, the controller processes the information and control instructions, and transmits the command signals to the actuators. The actuators in turn convert the signals and execute the operation.
Autonomous robots are operated independently as the long transmission ranges of radio waves prevent the remote control of such robots in real-time. Rovers that encounter craters, cliffs, rocks and other dangers are operated based on this concept.
Types of Space Robots
Remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and remote manipulator system (RMS) are the two major types of space robots.
A typical ROV can be a rover moving over the terrain upon landing, a lander operated from a stationary point and is in contact with an extra-terrestrial plain or an unmanned spacecraft. Besides being used by space researchers for terrain exploration in space, ROVs are used by bomb squads to detect potentially hazardous materials, in nuclear facilities and subsea.
RMS is the most common robotic device used in industry and manufacturing. It is more like a robotic arm that recreates various movements of the human arm including up-and-down, side-to-side and 360 degree circular motion. It can be either computer-operated or manually controlled.
So far, RMS has performed various functions on NASA space missions, by acting as a positioning and ancho
The space agencies of the USSR (now Russia and Ukraine), the United States, the European Union, Japan, China, India, and Israel have collectively launched probes to several planets and moons of the Solar System, as well as to a number of asteroids and comets. Approximately 15 missions are currently operational.
A robot is defined as a self-controlled device consisting of electronic, electrical or mechanical units that can function in place of a living agent.
Robots play a vital role in exploring the hostile environment of outer space. Besides the Earth, the Moon is the only celestial body that humans have stepped on. However, advancements in research are making it possible for robotic missions to reach space faster and gather more information than humans. Robots don’t get tired, can operate in airless environment and do not get bored or distracted, making them superior to humans in a lot of ways.
Space robots are of various sizes and shapes, which include robot arms, (e.g. the Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator System; rovers - Sojourner; landers - Mars Pathfinder; atmospheric probes - Huygens Titan probe; orbiters - Galileo; and planetary flyby probes - Voyagers 1 and 2).
In general, all space robots have the same components that include a power supply, controller, actuators, sensors and radio communication unit. These sensors collect information about the robot and its environment, the controller processes the information and control instructions, and transmits the command signals to the actuators. The actuators in turn convert the signals and execute the operation.
Autonomous robots are operated independently as the long transmission ranges of radio waves prevent the remote control of such robots in real-time. Rovers that encounter craters, cliffs, rocks and other dangers are operated based on this concept.
Types of Space Robots
Remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and remote manipulator system (RMS) are the two major types of space robots.
A typical ROV can be a rover moving over the terrain upon landing, a lander operated from a stationary point and is in contact with an extra-terrestrial plain or an unmanned spacecraft. Besides being used by space researchers for terrain exploration in space, ROVs are used by bomb squads to detect potentially hazardous materials, in nuclear facilities and subsea.
RMS is the most common robotic device used in industry and manufacturing. It is more like a robotic arm that recreates various movements of the human arm including up-and-down, side-to-side and 360 degree circular motion. It can be either computer-operated or manually controlled.
So far, RMS has performed various functions on NASA space missions, by acting as a positioning and ancho