Project description
Multi-robot cooperation in on-the-moon construction
Exploring space requires a lot of resources. Prolonged exploration hinges on a safe base to meet the needs of survival and to conduct scientific testing. Taking everything we need with us is not only expensive but very risky. To solve the problem of resources in space, the EU-funded PRO-ACT project foresees multi-robot cooperation to support future human space activities on the moon. Specifically, it will develop and demonstrate cooperation and manipulation capabilities between three robots for in situ resource utilisation. By testing for conditions that are like those on the moon, it will build on the results of other project outcomes.
Objective
The proposal addresses the establishment, with the support of mobile robotic platforms, of a precursor lunar base with essential capabilities in preparation to commercial exploitation of in-situ resources by assembling an ISRU resource extraction and utilization system will be essential for the establishment of future human settlement. It will in particular include the extraction of oxygen from regolith to serve as oxidizer for fuel and for artificial atmosphere generation within habitats, and 3D printing of relevant structures using regolith (with or without adjuvant, depending on printing strategy) for construction purpose – e.g. tiles for landing pad and roads, panels for berms, elements for shelters.
The primary objective of PRO-ACT is to implement and demonstrate multi-robot cooperation capabilities in a moon construction context, relying on, extending and integrating the outcomes of OG1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Accordingly PRO-ACT will:
- Review, extend and integrate ESROCOS, ERGO, InFuse, I3DS and SIROM outcomes as part of a comprehensive multi-robot system, in a meaningful moon construction scenario.
- Develop robust multi-robot cooperation capabilities allowing joint interventions (including navigation in close vicinity and joint manipulation actions) in mixed structured / unstructured environment. Make the capabilities available within a CREW module, integrated along with ERGO, InFuse and ESROCOS.
- Perform the customization of existing mobile robotic platforms and prepare facilities (moon analogue) for performing tests and demonstrations in a selection of relevant, partially representative scenarios of moon construction activities in relation to (1) ISRU capabilities establishment and (2) preparing dust mitigation surfaces (3) assembling and deploying a gantry/3D printer. As a baseline, TRL 4 to 5 is aimed at (depending on scenarios subparts).
- Perform needed tests and demonstrations in Lunar analogues to validate the newly developed capabilities.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesnatural satellites
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringadditive manufacturing
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
1932 Zaventem
Belgium
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.