Abstract
In this first of three short papers, I introduce some of the basic concepts of space engineering with an emphasis on some specific challenging areas of research that are peculiar to the application of robotics to space development and exploration. The style of these short papers is pedagogical and this paper stresses the unique constraints that space application imposes. This first paper is thus a general introduction to the nature of spacecraft engineering and its application to robotic spacecraft. I consider the constraints and metrics used by spacecraft engineers in the design of spacecraft and how these constraints impose challenges to the roboticist. The following two papers consider specific robotics issues in more detail.
Highlights
The space environment represents one of the most challenging applications of robotics
The first constraint imposed on the robotic spacecraft is the necessity of functioning in a hostile, nonterrestrial environment
We have considered general robotic spacecraft issues here which are of critical importance to the space roboticist, space robotics as a discipline is focussed on more specific issues and reflects more closely the subject-area covered by terrestrial robotics
Summary
The space environment represents one of the most challenging applications of robotics. A minority extension of this viewpoint is that robotics is a discipline that has been stultified by its association with manufacturing, and space exploration provides an essential application in order to advance robotics as a discipline further towards its goal of developing human-like capabilities in the machine Regardless of whether this may be so, or not, space application of robotics imposes unique drivers on robotics technology. In this first of three short papers, I introduce some of the basic concepts of space engineering with an emphasis on some specific challenging areas of research that are peculiar to the application of robotics to space development and exploration The style of these short papers is pedagogical and this paper stresses the unique constraints that space application imposes. The following two papers consider specific robotics issues in more detail
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