Snake Robots To Help Astronauts
Three years ago SINTEF was investigating whether snake robots could help astronauts working on Mars with mobility and access. As part of a project commissioned by the ESA, researchers are to continue with this work and are carrying out a preliminary study to examine the technology and other opportunities for utilising robots in space.
“More ambitious applications include potential activities on comets and the Moon”, says Aksel Transeth at SINTEF. “But right now, the most realistic projects are looking into how snake robots can assist ISS astronauts in maintaining their equipment.
Moon Village
Building in lava tubes will mean that settlers will be protected from harmful exposure to cosmic radiation and meteorites.
However, such tunnels must be inspected to ensure that it is possible for people to live and work in them, and this is where the snake robots may have a role to play. The force of gravity is weaker on the Moon. Moreover, lava tubes may drop vertically from the surface. So how will it be possible to facilitate access and mobility?
Researching comets
In 2004, the ESA launched the Rosetta space probe, and in 2014 the probe released the Philae lander onto the comet 67P/Tsjurjumov–Gerasimenko. The lander was equipped with a system of harpoons designed to hold it in place on landing. Unfortunately, this failed to work.
“There is pretty much no gravity on a comet”, says Transeth. “If you try to walk on the surface, you’ll just be thrown into space”, he says. “So we have to find ways in which snake robots can move around on a comet while at the same time keeping themselves fixed on the surface”, says Transeth.
Inspection and maintenance on the ISS
Astronauts carry out experiments sent to them in boxes by their colleagues on Earth, and these experiments have to be carried out in a state of weightlessness. For example, what plants can grow in space? How do wounds heal in such surroundings?
These are the astronauts’ main tasks, but they also have their work cut out inspecting and maintaining all the equipment needed to keep the space station in operation. Anything that saves them time during their hectic schedule is worth its weight in gold.
“It’s possible that a robot could carry out much of the routine inspection and maintenance work”, says Transeth. “The experiments are stacked in the shelf sections, behind which corrosion can occur. To find this out, inspections have to be made. A snake robot could creep behind the sections, carry out an inspection, and perhaps even perform small maintenance tasks”, he says.
Rolls up, creeps and extends
“We believe that we can design a robot that can hold on, roll itself up and then extend its body in order to reach new contact points”, explains Transeth. “Moreover, we believe that it can creep in among equipment components on the ISS and use equipment surfaces to gain traction in order to keep moving forward – much in the same way as real snakes do in the wild”, he says.
“We want to find out what specifications a snake robot system requires”, he adds. “For example, what kind of sensors does the robot need to obtain an adequate understand its surroundings? What technologies are available to help us meet these needs, and what new technologies will have to be developed? What uncertainties are involved in terms to what it may be possible to achieve?” asks Transeth.
A drone called Astrobee will soon be flying around and making inspections on the ISS. The researchers believe that they can learn a lot from Astrobee because some of its technology will be similar to that which can be applied in a snake robot system.
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