Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dextre shortly after installation on the ISS (2008)

The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM, skilful working device for special purposes ) is a robotic arm system of the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Mobile Servicing System . Based on the robot arms of the Space Shuttle ( Canadarm ) and the ISS ( Canadarm2 ), also built under Canadian management , the terms Canada Hand or Dextre (from dexterity ) are also used.

The production of the system is part of Canada's contribution to the ISS and is carried out on behalf of the Canadian space agency CSA by the robotics department of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates , also known as MD robotics . The future operations of the SPDM and the necessary training of the station crew will also be carried out by the CSA.

Structure and tasks

Although Dextre is installed at the end of the Canadarm2, its functions and tasks go far beyond a pure gripping system. The complex facility has, among other things, two highly mobile robot arms for performing precise work in space. Both arms have seven joints each, which give them significantly greater freedom of movement than any of the systems previously used. At their ends there is a selection of different tools and automatic receptacles for other devices. With the help of this Orbital Replacement Unit / Tool Changeout Mechanism (OTCM) , gripper jaws, extendable Allen keys and monochrome cameras can be used. To monitor and support the work of the robot arms, adjustable headlights and color cameras as well as a tool platform and a tool holder are installed in the Dextre base.

By using Dextre at the ISS, the tasks and possible uses of the mobile servicing system have been expanded considerably, as the overall system enables much more precise tasks to be performed. The focus of these tasks is on the monitoring and operation of experiments in free space, which are attached to the outside of the ISS, in particular on the external stowage platforms and the experiment carrier of the Japanese space laboratory Kibō (ELM-ES). In addition, the system is used for monitoring and maintenance of the station and supports space travelers during outboard work . In addition, Dextre extends the range of the Canadarm2 and can also be put down and picked up again if necessary.

The device is 3.70 m long and 2.37 m wide without the arms. The length of the arms is 3.51 m, the weight 1710 kg.

begin

All exercises and tests in the thermal and vacuum - space - simulators of CSA were completed successfully. In addition, the system was subjected to various electronics and vibration tests in order to simulate the extreme conditions during transport to the ISS. Dextre was brought to the ISS on March 11, 2008 with the STS-123 mission and mounted on the robot arm on the following days with some problems.

The first scheduled deployment of Dextre was planned for January 2011 to unload the external cargo of the Japanese transporter HTV-2.

Others

Due to the limited contingent of space shuttle missions still available, a NASA study was carried out in 2004 on the use of an unmanned deployment of Dextre or an identical system for the repair and maintenance of the aging Hubble space telescope . At a press conference on October 31, 2006, NASA announced that a manned service mission to the Hubble telescope was being carried out with the STS-125 and that the idea of ​​an unmanned deployment would not be pursued for the time being.

Dextre and Canadarm2 have adorned Canadian 5 dollar banknotes since 2013.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e Dextre's data sheet. Canadian Space Agency, May 23, 2018, accessed January 3, 2019 .
  2. ^ First use of Dextre in January 2011. September 28, 2010, accessed on January 3, 2019 .