Smart Quick-Disconnect for Lunar Robotics

Goal: To provide a robust, smart, low profile quick-disconnect for the APEX robotic arm that provides both power and communications to compatible tools Capability Need/Knowledge Gap: In particular long term autonomous robotic lunar site preparation for astronauts, including in-situ resource utilization operations, will require machine reparability, which is feasible autonomously via a modular robotic design approach. A "smart" excavator arm would recognize bucket or tool wear, might initiate percussive operations when needed, and in addition to self-changing tools may have the capability to deploy instrumentation for data collection beyond scooped-up soil mass measurements. State-of-the-Art/Knowledge: Advanced smart materials, such as the new shape memory alloys, enable novel concepts in mechanisms and in higher complexity machines, providing more compact or robust designs, or both. Embedding shape changing mechanical interlocks in robotic components can minimize the so-called "interface penalty" incurred when robotic designs are modular. Key Technical Challenges: Designing an excavator quick-disconnect that is mechanically strong, electrically actuated, does not release when unpowered, adds minimal offset to a bucket mount (thin), and provides for both power and data transfer to a smart tool. Approach/Research Plan: (1) Initial design complete for rapid prototyped iteration, low fidelity stress analysis / comparison to requirements complete; (2) Complete fabrication / rapid prototype of initial design; (3) Initiate fabrication of revised full strength version for APEX use; and, (4) Install / initial operation on APEX in Excavation Lab. Partner for wireless power transfer options compatible with space-constrained interface, and insensitive to lunar dust and apply common wireless data transfer protocol for proximity communication. This effort will produce both a specific hardware design for the Excavation Lab robotic arm, as well as more generally apply Glenn developed SMA torque tubes to a new mechanical linkage device. The initial schedule will be devoted to mechanism design in order to take advantage of the newly available high torque, solid state motion. Rapid prototyping of the major components will be used to refine the initial design before fabricating and building a working model for testing on the APEX robot. Next Step: Once designed and constructed, long term exercise on APEX is anticipated both as a useful addition of a quick-disconnect and as a functional life test.

Lunar dust mitigation is identified as a key technical challenge for extended lunar operations in the ISECG 2016 Dust Mitigation Gap Assessment document. In contrast with traditional excavators, a no-hydraulic, all-electric smart quick-disconnect would be built. While specific to APEX, this smart interface could be extended to other modular robots.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — 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.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.