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NASA awards Geisel Software and Arizona State University swarm robotics contract

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Geisel Software, a Massachusetts-based custom software development firm, and Arizona State University are pleased to announce they have been awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer contract by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Phase I will focus on identifying and developing intent estimation and intent-expressive motion planning technologies that enable cooperative operation of low-cardinality swarms of space vehicles (for example, planetary rovers and flyers) in lunar and planetary exploration missions.

Brian Geisel, CEO at Geisel Software, says: “Geisel Software is excited to be working with ASU on this ground-breaking swarming research for NASA. [Read more…] about NASA awards Geisel Software and Arizona State University swarm robotics contract

Airbus to develop ‘Moon Cruiser’ concept for ESA

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Aerospace giant Airbus has been awarded a CLTV (Cis-Lunar Transfer Vehicle) study for a “Moon Cruiser” by the European Space Agency (ESA).

According to the study concept (two parallel Phase A/B1), the CLTV is a versatile, autonomous logistics vehicle that could, for example, provide timely and efficient support to NASA and ESA in the implementation of the future Artemis Moon missions.

The spacecraft will be based on existing and proven technologies and will complement the multipurpose European Large Logistic Lander (EL3). [Read more…] about Airbus to develop ‘Moon Cruiser’ concept for ESA

Motiv Space Systems and Nasa to develop robotic arm for extreme cold environments

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Motiv Space Systems has agreed a partnership with Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Lab to develop COLDArm, a “first-in-kind” robotic arm that will be built to survive the extreme cold of the Moon’s South Pole, ushering in a new era of extended space exploration on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

COLDArm (short for Cold Operable Lunar Deployable Arm) is a vital component of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) a NASA program to send small robotic landers and rovers to the Moon, including its South Pole – a region known for extremely cold temperatures in the dark of night.

In fact, that’s the biggest design challenge faced by the space robotics engineers at Motiv and JPL: the extreme cold. To date, there aren’t that many space components that are expected to last a lunar night or to operate during a lunar night, but all of that is changing. [Read more…] about Motiv Space Systems and Nasa to develop robotic arm for extreme cold environments

Space robotics market predicted to grow to $5.7 billion by 2027

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The global space robotics market size is expected to reach $5.71 billion by 2027, registering a compound annual growth rate of 5.2 percent from 2020 to 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research. 

Space robotics is gaining traction in recent years owing to the growing exploration of outer space; the need for operations and maintenance of satellites, space stations, and other platforms; and the need for saving cost and mitigating safety issues.

Furthermore, the rising trend of using autonomous systems and artificial intelligence technology in robotics is widening the horizon of space exploration. [Read more…] about Space robotics market predicted to grow to $5.7 billion by 2027

US gives Amazon permission to make drone deliveries

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The US Federal Aviation Administration has given Amazon permission to make drone deliveries, certifying the company as an “air carrier” – basically like an airline company.

The world’s largest online retailer has been trying to get permits to operate its Amazon Prime Air drones for several years, making test deliveries by drones while it waits.

One sticking point was that the FAA had originally wanted drone operators to maintain human vision on the drone while in the air. [Read more…] about US gives Amazon permission to make drone deliveries

Geisel Software wins NASA contract to develop collaborative mobile robotics for space program

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Geisel Software, a Massachusetts-based custom software development company, and University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) have been awarded a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The award will support the development of a solution that will allow for collaborative mobility and manipulation in a heterogeneous robotic environment.

The research is critically important to solving problems such as mapping, localization, atmospheric transmission spectroscopy, electromagnetic radiation detection of all kinds, seismic and other planetary sensing, and more. [Read more…] about Geisel Software wins NASA contract to develop collaborative mobile robotics for space program

NASA about to launch Mars Rover robot

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NASA is today launching the latest version of its mobile robot for Mars.

ATI Industrial Automation worked with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) to develop a custom force/torque sensor for Perseverance, the latest Mars 2020 Rover project.

JPL is the leading US research entity for robotic exploration of our solar system and manages NASA’s Deep Space Network, the hardest-working telecommunications system on the planet. [Read more…] about NASA about to launch Mars Rover robot

NASA launching ‘Robot Hotel’ to the International Space Station

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Sometimes robots need a place to stay in space, too. NASA is attaching a “robot hotel” to the outside of the International Space Station with the upcoming launch of the Robotic Tool Stowage (RiTS), a protective storage unit for critical robotic tools.

RiTS is set to launch on today (December 4) aboard the 19th SpaceX commercial resupply mission. Its first residents will be two Robotic External Leak Locators (RELL).

Outfitted with mass spectrometers capable of “sniffing” out the presence of gases such as ammonia, these robotic tools are used to detect leaks from the station. [Read more…] about NASA launching ‘Robot Hotel’ to the International Space Station

NASA takes delivery of first all-electric experimental aircraft

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The first all-electric configuration of NASA’s X-57 Maxwell now is at the space agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.

The X-57, NASA’s first all-electric experimental aircraft, or X-plane – and the first crewed X-plane in two decades – was delivered by Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) of San Luis Obispo, California on Wednesday, October 2, in the first of three configurations as an all-electric aircraft, known as Modification II, or Mod II.

The X-57’s Mod II vehicle features the replacement of traditional combustion engines on a baseline Tecnam P2006T aircraft, with electric cruise motors. [Read more…] about NASA takes delivery of first all-electric experimental aircraft

Nasa installs 7-foot-long robotic arm on Mars 2020 Rover

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Nasa has integrated a 7-foot-long robotic arm on the Mars 2020 Rover.

In the image shown above, taken about a week ago, engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, install the main robotic arm on the Mars 2020 rover.

A smaller arm to handle Mars samples will be installed inside the rover as well. [Read more…] about Nasa installs 7-foot-long robotic arm on Mars 2020 Rover