The revolution of space robotics

The Strategic Research Cluster (SRC) is addressing the many applications of space technologies.

Imagine that your expensive bike breaks down in the middle of the woods and you cannot repair it. Monty Python gave us a solution around 50 years ago: the bicycle repairman, in the form of a superman that appears out of nowhere and repairs bicycles.

Now think of the expensive equipment we have put up in space. What if their fuel runs out? What if one of their instruments ends up malfunctioning? Like the Galileo atomic clocks recently. How can they be repaired, refuelled, revamped or even taken to a retirement orbit/de-orbited?

The answer lies in Robotics technology. Imagine a space vehicle that is going around a satellite constellation, servicing satellites. How would it work? You would need intelligent perception, navigation and control algorithms to approach the target satellite, an interface that allows connections to it, and maybe a robotic arm that would perform the necessary operations. In fact, this is not science fiction; it is becoming a reality thanks to several worldwide initiatives promising a space demonstration in the very near future.

That is not all: robotics technologies can allow autonomous assembly of structures in space, paving the way to manufacturing in space. Space crafts and satellites are now made on the ground and sent to space. Space telescopes are sent in one piece to space. But there are limits to what we can assemble and send in one piece. Can the assembling process happen in space? Think of the International Space Station: it has been assembled in orbit using remotely controlled complex operations.

Such applications could revolutionise the Palaeolithic way we do business in space today. But beyond commercial applications in space, robotics is obviously the biggest enabler for space exploration. Due to the time delay, it is not possible to tele operate a rover roaming the surface of Mars in real time. The rover must be able to make decisions autonomously and to be able to take intelligent decisions related to space science on its own: "Is this stone worth turning?", "Is this cave worth exploring?" Artificial intelligence and robotics are the key technologies for this, giving rovers the capacity to explore but to also construct a base for humans on other planets, such as a lunar base.

The Horizon 2020 Strategic Research Cluster in Space Robotics is addressing all the above applications, aiming for a demonstration of high fidelity testing facilities within Horizon 2020's scope, and potentially in space in Horizon Europe.

These complex scenarios are implemented within a synergetic ecosystem called a "cluster". The European and National Space Agencies deliver a roadmap and technical expertise, while European industry, academia and research centres engage in technological developments. Five Building Blocks projects are being completed: Robotic Operating System (Open Source), Autonomy Framework, Data Fusion Framework, Intelligent Sensor Suite, Standard Interface. By combining these building blocks, all the above applications will be addressed in subsequent grants, serving both commercial space and space exploration.