TransGo

Technology Readiness Levels of Intelligent Robotic Systems in Space and their Transferability to Other Domains

Against the background of increasing mission durations of robotic systems in increasingly complex planetary exploration scenarios, TransGo aims at heightening the technology readiness level of individual exemplary core technologies at the DFKI RIC (joint actuator), as well as establishing plans for future TRL enhancements of complete robotic systems. Furthermore, TransGo evaluates options for the space qualification of up-to-date artificial intelligence methods in robot control and possibilities for the transfer of the TRL system to terrestrial robotic application scenarios in SAR, rehabilitation and underwater robotics.

Duration: 01.07.2012 till 28.02.2013
Donee: German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence GmbH
Sponsor: Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
German Aerospace Center e.V.
Grant number: The project is funded by the Space Agency of the German Aerospace Center with federal funds of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) in accordance with the parliamentary resolution of the German Parliament, grant no. 50RA1222
Application Field: Space Robotics
Related Projects: LIMES
Learning Intelligent Motions for Kinematically Complex Robots for Exploration in Space (05.2012- 04.2016)
RIMRES
Reconfigurable Integrated Multi Robot Exploration System (09.2009- 12.2012)
iStruct
Intelligent Structures for Mobile Robots (05.2010- 08.2013)
CUSLAM
Localization and mapping in confined underwater environments (09.2009- 07.2012)

Project details

In the future, new robotic concepts are needed to tackle the challenges of increasing mission durations and at the same time ever more complex robotic tasks in space. The Robotics Innovation Center of the German Center for Artificial Intelligence has identified and demonstrated in different past projects, how this challenges could be approached under lab and outdoor conditions, with a focus on walking and cooperative robots.

With regards to future participation in national or international space missions, TransGo will prepare the implementation of policies and procedures for the space qualification of above mentioned robotic technologies and their technology readiness level progression.

Technical objectives are the re-design and development of the control electronics for the robotic joints developed at DFKI RIC to achieve the next technology readiness level, the integration of a space-qualified LEON3 processor on the control electronics’ FPGA and the porting of localization- and navigation algorithms to space qualifiable hardware. Scientifically, TransGo has the objectives to evaluate space qualification possibilities for up-to-date artificial intelligence methods for robotic control, and to transfer the maturity level system of TRLs to terrestrial robotic application scenarios like SAR, rehabilitation and under water robotics as well as identify scenario-specific test and proof opportunities.

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