Human Arm Dynamics: Pioneering the Future of Robot Space Maintenance

In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology have unveiled a new approach that could revolutionize space maintenance and assembly. Published in Cyborg and Bionic Systems on September 6, 2023, this method mimics the variable damping characteristics of the human arm to enhance the capabilities of intelligent agents working in space. This innovative technique promises to bolster safety, adaptability, and precision in robotic space assembly tasks.

As the demand for on-orbit assembly and maintenance in space increases, the limitations of traditional manipulator control systems have become apparent. They struggle to adapt to diverse assembly tasks and are vulnerable to vibrations, often resulting in assembly failures. Robot space maintenance is gaining prominence, primarily due to the harsh space environment, where non-human workers, or digital employees, can outperform human astronauts. This shift is not only significant for space technology but also mitigates the health risks associated with human presence in space stations.

Compliance control has emerged as the primary method for enabling robots to perform complex assembly tasks, yet it places high demands on the manipulator's contact performance. Researchers have proposed various compliance control methods to improve the adaptability and efficiency of robots, particularly in unknown environments. One key challenge is to manage damping to prevent excessive contact forces that could damage assembly components. The human arm's musculoskeletal system, capable of adjusting damping to perform various tasks safely and stably, served as a model for the new approach.

The Beijing Institute of Technology research team successfully applied the human-like variable parameter admittance controller to a robot satellite assembly experiment, demonstrating its effectiveness. While this innovation improves the adaptability, precision, and controllability of robots in space, further research is needed to enable these digital employees to perform flexible assembly tasks comparable to humans. Ultimately, this advancement in humanoid control strategies has the potential to enhance mission efficiency, safety, and reliability in space exploration and development.

Key Highlights:

• Innovative Mimicry: Researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology have developed an innovative approach to robot space maintenance by mimicking the variable damping characteristics of the human arm. This approach promises safer, more adaptable, and precise robotic space assembly.
• Space Maintenance Trends: The increasing use of non-human workers, or digital employees, for space maintenance and repair is a crucial trend in space technology. These robots outperform human astronauts in harsh space environments, mitigating health risks and addressing spacecraft repair challenges.
• Compliance Control Challenges: Compliance control methods are essential for robots to perform complex assembly tasks, but they demand high contact performance from the manipulator. This can make achieving the necessary precision and adaptability challenging.
• Human Arm Inspiration: To address these challenges, the research team drew inspiration from the human arm's ability to adjust damping during various tasks safely and stably. This concept was applied to robots to enhance their capabilities.
• Effective Implementation: The research team successfully verified the effectiveness of the human-like variable parameter admittance controller in a robotic satellite assembly experiment, underlining its potential to improve robot adaptability, precision, and controllability.
• Future Prospects: While this innovation holds significant promise for space exploration and development, further research is required to enable robots to perform even more flexible assembly tasks, equivalent to human abilities. This advancement in humanoid control strategies could greatly enhance mission efficiency, safety, and reliability in the future of space technology.

References: [1].