A study of space-rated connectors using a robot end-effector

Abstract

The main research activities have been directed toward the study of the Robot Operated Materials Processing System (ROMPS), developed at GSFC under a flight project to investigate commercially promising in-space material processes and to design reflyable robot automated systems to be used in the above processes for low-cost operations. The research activities can be divided into two phases. Phase 1 dealt with testing of ROMPS robot mechanical interfaces and compliant device using a Stewart Platform testbed and Phase 2 with computer simulation study of the ROMPS robot control system. This report provides a summary of the results obtained in Phase 1 and Phase 2.