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Completed TRL 8 (started at 6, targeting 8)
Investigate and adapt aides which will increase the efficiency of ISS robotics ground control operations. Initially focus on providing relative position feedback to the operator during close-proximity operations, like grasping a robotic interface for example, since this type of operation is one of the most inefficient from a ground-operator perspective. Will benefit ISS operations and provide a testbed for future telerobotic exploration systems that will save time for both the crew and the ground. This project will investigate and adapt aides which will increase the efficiency of ISS robotics ground control operations with the intent of creating more opportunities for ground-controlled robotic operations. The selection and adaption of an aide will initially focus on providing relative position feedback to the operator during close-proximity operations, like grasping a robotic interface for example, since this type of operation is one of the most inefficient from a ground-operator perspective. This is to be a video-based system using Natural Feature Image Recognition (NFIR). The intent is to eventually use the same information to generate commands within the command system. This will benefit ISS operations and provide a testbed for future telerobotic exploration systems that will save time for both the crew and the ground.
The ultimate goal is for the aide to be used during real-time ISS robotic operations. The Robotics Officers from the Mission Operations Directorate (MOD), who are responsible for ISS robotic operations, are very interested in an aide to improve their efficiency and are prepared to use the aide during real-time operations. This aide or the underlying algorithms could be of benefit to a number of missions including active debris removal, asteroid retrieval, or automated rendezvous where a dedicated targeting system is not already in place.
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This is a mature technology (TRL 8) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.
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