Space robots are special robots used to replace humans in space for scientific experiments, capsule operations, space exploration and other activities. Space robots instead of astronauts out of the capsule activities can significantly reduce the risk and cost.
I. Characteristics of space robots
Space robots are active in the space environment, which is very different from the ground environment. Space robots work in microgravity, high vacuum, ultra-low temperature, strong radiation and poor lighting, therefore, the requirements of space robots and ground robots are necessarily different and have their own characteristics.
First, space robots are smaller, lighter, and more resistant to interference.
Second, space robots are more intelligent and full-featured. Space robots consume as little energy as possible, have as long a working life as possible, and have higher reliability requirements because they are working in the special environment of space.
In addition, space robots are moving and navigating autonomously in a constantly changing three-dimensional environment. The space robot can hardly stay in space, so it must be able to determine its position and status in space in real time; it must be able to control its vertical motion; and it must predict and plan the path for its interplanetary flight.
Second, the use of space robots
1、Space construction and assembly
Some large installation components, such as radio antennas, solar cells, the assembly of various modules and other extra-vehicular activities are inseparable from space robots, robots will undertake a variety of handling, the connection between the components tightening, toxic or dangerous goods handling and other tasks. In the near future, more than half of the initial construction of the artificial space station will be completed by robots.
2、Maintenance and repair of satellites and other spacecraft
With the continuous development of human activities in space, human "property" in space has become more and more, in these properties artificial satellite accounted for the vast majority. If these satellites once the failure, discard them and then launch new satellites is very uneconomical, must try to repair them to make them work again. But if you send astronauts to repair, and involves the issue of extravehicular activity, and because the spacecraft in space, is under the environment of intense cosmic radiation, people simply can not perform the task, so we can only rely on robots. The maintenance and repair work carried out by space robots include recovery of malfunctioning satellites, in situ repair of malfunctioning satellites, resupply of space vehicles, etc.
3、Space production and scientific experiments
Space provides humans with a microgravity and high vacuum environment that cannot be achieved on the ground, and this environment can be used to produce products that cannot be produced on the ground or are difficult to produce. In space can also be carried out on the ground can not do the scientific experiments. Unlike space assembly and space repair, space production and scientific experiments are mainly performed in an in-cabin environment, where the operations are mostly repetitive and in most cases can be directly inspected and controlled by the astronauts. Space robots at this time are like working on a production line in a factory on the ground. Therefore, the robots that can be used are mostly general-purpose multifunctional robots. Space robots will play a great role in ensuring the safety of space activities, improving productivity and economic efficiency, and expanding the role of space stations.
