Front-end Robotics Enabling Near-term Demonstration (FREND)
Abstract
The goal of the Front-end Robotics Enabling Near-term Demonstration (FREND) program is to develop, demonstrate, and fly robotic manipulator technologies designed to allow interaction with geosynchronous orbit (GEO)-based military and commercial spacecraft, extending their service lives and permitting satellite refueling, repair, refurbishment, repositioning or retirement. Existing GEO spacecraft are outfitted with sufficient propellant to provide for needed station keeping, repositioning, and retirement maneuvers, which in many cases defines their useful mission durations. Once the propellant is expended, the vehicle is retired and, in many cases, replaced. FREND technologies can enable significant service extension to these spacecraft through re-boosting near end-of-life. FREND technologies may also be applied to crewed servicing vehicles to provide robotic assistance to manned GEO servicing missions. Recent events have significantly increased the number of objects/debris in low earth orbit (LEO), particularly in orbital planes of most interest to DoD users, causing an increased threat to safe space operations. FREND combines detailed photogrammetric and laser imaging with robotic multi-degree-of-freedom manipulators to autonomously grapple space objects not outfitted with custom interfaces. A FREND-based servicing spacecraft offers the potential for spacecraft salvage, repair, rescue, reposition, de-orbit and retirement, and debris removal. The program will examine possible solutions for all classes of LEO debris to determine the most economical technical solution set to mitigating the problem. In addition, FREND will investigate neurorobotics as a potential replacement for the baseline suite of algorithms (e.g., arm trajectory planning, vehicle pose estimation, grapple feature identification, or compliance control) required to dock multiple robotic arms with a client spacecraft. The anticipated transition partner is the Air Force.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- 6ace324c1cba50acb1793cd7ed437901