Space Robotics Supporting Exploration Missions : Vision, Force Control & Co-ordination Strategies

In recent years, interest in space activities has grown more and more and there are future space exploration plans that include human missions to the Moon and Mars. The return to the Moon will rely on a large robotic presence to support exploration and, later, to assist the building of the lunar base. These plans will thus require the availability of intelligent, interactive and co-operative robotic systems since, on space missions, astronaut time is valuable and very scarce (they have to focus on research requiring their expertise rather than on routine procedures). Therefore, there is the need of developing skills, capabilities and operational experience for working in space and on the surface of the Moon (and Mars later) with machines and people, in preparation of further destinations exploration. To this aim, this book examines the future vision, force control and co-ordination strategies of space robotics supporting exploration missions.