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Automated Reconfigurable Mission Adaptive Digital Assembly Systems (ARMADAS)
Completed
TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 4)
Description
Large-scale surface and in-space structural assembly and servicing of physical systems and terrestrial infrastructure are applicable to next generation solar power, communications, habitats and scientific instrumentation, as well as large and long duration critical terrestrial infrastructure, such as bridges and towers.
The use of simplified robots and a modular mechanical metamaterials approach to structures allows for cross cutting utility across diverse tasks and applications. Distributed coordinated autonomous mobile robotics, as demonstrated by ARMADAS, moves system complexity from hardware/mechanisms onto software and algorithms, using teams of robots that deliver more diversity and complexity with robust operations at lower cost than common general purpose robotic agents. "General purpose" robotic agents utilized by industry require highly structured operational environments, and commercial attempts by leading artificial intelligence companies to extend their utility to unstructured environments (i.e. with machine vision) have failed. The ARMADAS strategy leverages the well structured nature of the highest performing lightweight materials known, as an environment that is natural for robots to index to. These mobile robots can be thought of as mobile end-effectors that can deliver capabilities (gripping, positioning, joining, outfitting, etc.) precisely and only where needed, thus making them capable of a much wider variety of assembly and construction tasks. The ARMADAS system's standardized structural module and panel elements further enable significant construction efficiencies buy using simple structural element forms that can be mass produced using near term ISRU-derived materials and processes.
Product Capabilities:
- Autonomous assembly of infrastructure from a set of packed parts.
- Scalable and reconfigurable design opportunities address limitations and challenges of launch vehicle payload volumes, as well as changing or emerging programmatic needs.
- Repairable building-blocks simplify the spare part problem.
Technical Capabilities:
- Small, simple robots unpack, traverse the structure, and assemble physical building blocks to create functional structures, such as antennas, habitats, and spaceports.
- Lightweight materials and structures bypass the performance and/or size limitations of typical production methods and enable a wide-range of applications
- Advanced system autonomy enabled by robots ‘living’ on the structure to leverage discrete indexing/local metrology, local error correction, and discrete algorithms
Benefits
The ARMADAS project addresses ISAM/OSAM Gaps, Autonomy Advancement, Lifecycle Materials and Infrastructure Cost, and System Scalability, as benefits a diversity of space applications including Moon/Mars and Orbital Infrastructure.
This approach allows autonomous construction of space structures from multiple decentralized sites and accommodates structural reconfigurations using the same components. The structural component designs allow for a broad scope of utility from simple component manufacturing, as well as simple robotic assembly of structures with high specific stiffness and low mass density. These structural components also enable automated disassembly and reassembly into highly varying and large structures. The use of modular components facilitates design-fabrication-repair-reuse material life cycles with potential for re-configurability across missions, which can provide significant cost savings.
Distributed coordinated autonomous robotics is a potential new economic driver that NASA is uniquely well-positioned to lead. Significant reduction in cost of entry to the marketplace may be the most important effect in this regard, similar to smallsats. This benefit extends to NASA's domestic and international education outreach.
Details
| Technology area | Autonomous Systems > Engineering and Integrity > Architecture and Design of Autonomous Systems |
| Program | Game Changing Development (GCD) |
| Lead organization | Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA |
| Start date | 2017-10-01 |
| End date | 2023-09-30 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
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