There are approximately 8000 satellites orbiting the Earth at any given moment. The vast majority of these units contains state-of-the-art, high tech electronics and communications equipment. So when one of them stops working for any reason, it becomes an extremely expensive piece of space junk — nothing more. The solution to this expensive problem? Space-based repair robots, of course!
To avoid an atmosphere littered with broken down space-junk (the galactic equivalent of a “red neck yard”), researchers are designing a robotic system to repair damaged or malfunctioning satellites in orbit. Currently, scientists are creating software to track the dodgy satellites, and map out their specific problems. The software would be installed in Autonomous Space Servicing Vehicles (or ASSV’s), which are effectively robot repair vehicles that would be launched into orbit, and guided toward the problem satellites.
Once it nears the proximity of the ailing satellite, the ASSV would “grab” the unit and pull it into a repair bay inside the robotic vehicle. From there, satellite technicians on earth would use remote control instruments and video cameras to isolate and repair the problem.
Like any mechanical system, satellites eventually fail. But because they “live” in orbit above the earth, thousands of miles from the surface, it is an expensive proposition in deed to launch a manned shuttle every time a satellite needs repairing. A research team from Queens University in Canada is developing the ASSV system in association with MDA Space Missions to provide a more efficient way of repairing the wayward satellites.
Of course, there are great challenges in developing a space-based robotic system to repair satellites. To begin with, simply locating and grabbing onto the satellites is a significant challenge. The ASSV will need to analyze the satellite’s relative orbit, speed and direction before being able to lock on to the unit.
It’s also important to remember that satellites are typically extremely delicate pieces of equipment. If the robot grabs the unit in the wrong place or a bit too hard, it could irreparably damage the unit, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars. For this reason, the mechanical repair “droids” must use very sophisticated software, which incorporates a certain degree of artificial intelligence to complete their missions.
And since real human technicians will be both diagnosing and manipulating the repair process from Earth, there is a great deal of pressure on the humans involved in the process to “get it right.” One tiny slip could wind up destroying a multimillion dollar piece of communications technology. Talk about pressure!
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