If you read the above and pictured something like a Wall-E rolled in bubble wrap, you're not alone.
Space exploration is a tough job, and for the robots deployed to perform tasks such as resource extraction on the Moon and on-orbit satellite servicing, the environment is even tougher. Dust, solar radiation and temperatures ranging from -150°C to 120°C, robots are required to work under extreme atmospheric conditions, but this week, the European Space Agency (ESA) is launching a project to improve the working conditions of its autonomous employees.
It's called 'Smart Skin for Exploration Cobots' and aims to develop a protective covering for robotic arms intended for future lunar missions, Martian missions, and in-orbit operations. Additive manufacturing (AM) will play a key role, and according to the ESA, the technology will be 'pushed beyond its comfort zone -with entirely new approaches to design and material selection'.
To lead the 1.65 million Euro project, the ESA has appointed the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) and a consortium of European partners including Admatis (Hungary), PIAP Space (Poland), and Redwire Space Europe (Luxembourg). The project will take two years and aims to deliver two functional solutions tested under space-like conditions.
Building on a successful pilot phase, the 'smart skin' will be built around a 3D printed scaffold, which can be mounted onto a robotic arm to serve four major functions: thermal and dust-protective layer that shields against extreme temperature fluctuations and abrasive dust penetration; flexible power and data cabling; sensors capable of detecting and preventing collisions; and features that enhance human-machine interaction.
Previous missions have relied on Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) materials for protection, but these applications have been static. The challenge here is to develop a similar type of thermal insulation for moving parts that can be adaptable to different types of robotic arms. Admatis is developing the thermal protection, while PIAP Space and Redwire Space Europe are providing the robotic arms, the same arms currently being developed for ESA's upcoming lunar missions.
Tamás Bárczy, CEO at Admatis, commented, "Applying an advanced protection system could lead to building robotic arms from commercially available components. This can create a cost-effective way of providing new solutions for customers in many space domains - from deep space missions, through in-orbit servicing to Moon colonisation."
The smart skin is also believed to have further application potential here on Earth, as Christian Dalsgaard, Senior Consultant at DTI, explained, "We see strong potential for the technology eventually to find applications in companies where robots are exposed to extreme conditions. Think of metal foundries, where dirt and extreme heat challenge equipment performance. The technology we are developing could potentially extend the service life of critical equipment and reduce maintenance costs."
Earlier this year, the ESA launched another DTI-led project to explore how using lunar soil to create conductive 3D printing material could help to reduce dependence on supplies from Earth for more sustainable and resilient space exploration.
Laura Griffiths
More on AM in space exploration.
