Space automation and robotics activities past, present and future: Next steps for a robotics laboratory

An Automation and Robotics (A&R) laboratory is being developed at the National Aerospace Laboratory NLR. The laboratory is intended to be a testbed for harmonized ESA/Dutch operations technology. A number of activities related to (internal) A&R are reviewed. A reference scenario involving liquid sloshing experiments based on an external robot...

Experiments with remote visual access and on-line space services

Based on an analysis of previous telescience related activities a number of topics are discussed requiring further work from a utilization technology point of view: flexibility in data handling, remote use of high performance digital cameras, data networking and user workstations for remote operations based on visual feedback

Development of a smart camera optimized for telescience operations

For execution of experiments in microgravity payloads remote visual access is required. To allow remote image acquisition for high performance cameras, image preprocessing is proposed, i.e. 'smartness* near the camera. The concept of a 'smart telescience camera* is introduced as a framework for analyzing various options. A test bed is introduced...

"Space for the user": DUC in the Netherlands

As a result of the ESA-USO study, the Netherlands initiated the development of a Dutch National User Support Organisation in 1989. In the past years the development went forward, involving Dutch industries, Dutch users, Dutch national agencies and the National Aerospace Laboratory NLR, The Netherlands. The latter acting as manager and...

A remote user support pilot experiment for Anthrorack during spacelab D-2

During the D-2 mission an opportunity exists to execute a pilot experiment concerning distributed scientific user support for Anthrorack. A Dutch scientist will act as co-Investigator at GSOC and will get remote support from another scientist at NLR Noordoostpolder. Also, various operations are required during preparation and post-processing...

Study of high definition television & telescience experiments with the Olympus satellite: Part 2, Specialised application in the space field

Industrial and other organizations in the Netherlands are active in both the preparation for and the promotion of the broadcasting of HDTV. There has also been a start to research into "spin-off" specialized applications which could also benefit from the superior picture resolution; an example Is tele-science. Already in 1990, RAI(I) has...

On board image processing for telescience support

For realization of the telescience concept, remote control of instruments and experiments in space is required. Local image processing in experiment facilities may contribute in solving problems related to remote control based on visual information in the presence of communication constraints. A simulation set-up based on an optical diagnostic...

A study on focusing in telescience using the TELEPODI breadboard

Microgravity experiments operated using telescience concepts face certain constraints. The effect of these constraints on the focusing task are identified. Four types of focusing strategy, which provide a natural means of focusing in the presence of these constraints, are described. Three specific strategies are implemented as part of the...

Telescience pilot experiment results using telePODI: Final report

The Prototype Optical Diagnostic Instrument (PODI) has been extended to Teleoperated PODI (TelePODI) to allow for the study of telescience and image processing for microgee related instrumentation. TelePODI has been integrated in the Telescience Test Bed, phase I, at ESTEC to simulate remote control. Telescience pilot experiments have been...

Data handling in telescience experiments using the prototype optical diagnostic instrument (PODI)

The breadboard called PODI (Prototype Optical Diagnostic Instrument) was developed following a study on a general facility for experimental research on fluid physics in a space laboratory. The breadboard has been extended to TelePODI for the study of telescience and image processing in "microgee related instrumentation" and has been integrated...

Telescience experiments using the prototype optical diagnostic instrument (PODI)

The breadboard called PODI (Prototype Optical Diagnostic Instrument) was developed following a study for a general facility for fluid experimental research on fluid physics in a space laboratory. PODI has been developed further for the study of telescience and image processing related to microgee instrumentation. The extended breadboard called...

Teleoperation/telescience aspects of the equipment manipulator and transportation system (EMATS) : Part II : teleoperation analyses

This contract report is part II of the NLR contribution to the Equipment Manipulation and Transportation System (EMATS) study. Part II is the contribution to the "Concept Development" phase which is the second phase of the study. Not only control of EMATS is needed but also telepresence and telescience are aspects which need to be considered....

Telescience and image processing for PODI: An analysis and a proposal for a simulation set-up

Cost-benefit trade-off study for the image generation system of the Hera simulation facility pilot

For the HERA Simulation Facility Pilot the results of a dynamics simulation of HERA should be visualised using an image generation system in such a way that a human operator could be incorporated in the control loop. Software had to be designed with the restriction that an IRIS 3020/3120 was already selected as the hardware. A number of software...

On the feasibility of applying robot vision to proximity extraction based on one camera in space

Existing robot vision algorithms are evaluated for application in space for proximity extraction using one camera. Lighting conditions and image formation differ from earth conditions which have implications. An algorithm is derived which is based on the use of run coding, tracking and a least mean error method. Problems concerning hardware...