Descrizione del progetto
Collaborazione tra più robot nelle costruzioni lunari
L’esplorazione dello spazio richiede un gran numero di risorse. Un’esplorazione prolungata fa leva su una base sicura per rispondere alle esigenze di sopravvivenza e per condurre esperimenti scientifici. Portare tutto con sé non è solo dispendioso, ma anche molto rischioso. Per risolvere il problema delle risorse nello spazio, il progetto PRO-ACT, finanziato dall’UE, ha studiato una collaborazione multirobot per sostenere le future attività spaziali umane sulla Luna. Nello specifico, svilupperà e sottoporrà a dimostrazione la capacità di collaborazione e di manipolazione fra tre robot, per un impiego di risorse in situ. Effettuando prove in condizioni simili a quelle lunari, si baserà sui risultati di altri progetti.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
- 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
Programma(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
1932 Zaventem
Belgio
L’organizzazione si è definita una PMI (piccola e media impresa) al momento della firma dell’accordo di sovvenzione.