DEXTRE

[JonClarke]

<p>Has DEXTRE actually been used operationally since it went up in March?</p><p>Jon</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Somebody? Anybody? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Somebody? Anybody? <br />Posted by jonclarke</DIV><br /><br />jon, I just don't know and haven't heard anything. It is an excellent question! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[kelvinzero]

<p>Somebody isnt here right now. This is Anybody speaking.</p><p>For those like me trying to figure out what DEXTRE stands for. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextre (It doesnt mention anything in the&nbsp;additional use section)</p>

 

[JonClarke]

<p><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" /></p><p>It will be interesting to see how much use DEXTRE gets.&nbsp; The machine is designed to replace the need for an astronaut EVA for certain tasks.&nbsp; Since March,&nbsp;there have been 9 EVAs but apparently not one use of DEXTRE.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[lildreamer]

<p>for those who don't know what DEXTRE is </p><p>a beautiful jpg http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/287299main_dextre_iss017_big_full.jpg</p><p>and a short blurb...</p><h3>Dextre at Work</h3><p>What's the world's most complex space robot doing up there? <strong>In June 2008, Dextre was moved atop the Destiny Laboratory Module of the International Space Station (ISS)</strong>, completing tasks prior to the the STS-124 mission's deployment of Japan's Kibo pressurized science laboratory. <br /><br />Dextre, built by the Canadian Space Agency, has arms more than 9 feet in length and can attach power tools as fingers. Behind Dextre is the blackness of space, while Earth looms over Dextre's head. The Kibo laboratory segment that was deployed during space shuttle Discovery's trip to the ISS can be pressurized and contains racks of scientific experiment that will be used to explore how plants brace themselves against gravity and how water might be inhibited from freezing in cells under microgravity, as well as other experiments.<br />atory Module of the International Space Station (ISS), completing tasks prior to the the STS-124 mission's deployment of Japan's Kibo pressurized science laboratory. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[kelvinzero]

<p>It will be interesting to see how it turns out.&nbsp;</p><p>http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/12/dextre-grounded-engineers-evaluating-potential-failure-on-iss-robot/</p><p>Somehow&nbsp;brings to mind&nbsp;the small design glitch on that robot in 'the incredibles' </p><p>Im enthusiastic about robots, but to enable larger projects rather than replace people. Even if teleoperation beats spacesuits there is still the issue of lag.</p><p>I just read "A man on the moon" recently. Great book. What really stuck in my mind though was how short the actual visits were. All that effort and then just a few hours of astronauts running around like crazy people, fingers bleeding from spacesuit gloves,&nbsp;trying to make every minute count. Then we step so far back that it becomes at least a ten year+ mission again to build up the infrastructure get back.</p><p>Im hoping teleoperated robots may be a lower incremental cost and risk way of building up infrastructure that practically begs for people to move in, this time for long duration stays in relative comfort.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

 

[silylene]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>It will be interesting to see how much use DEXTRE gets.&nbsp; The machine is designed to replace the need for an astronaut EVA for certain tasks.&nbsp; Since March,&nbsp;there have been 9 EVAs but apparently not one use of DEXTRE. <br />Posted by jonclarke</DIV><br /><br />Jon, thanks for bringing this question up.&nbsp;&nbsp;A couple of times&nbsp;I have been in multinational collaborations which generate funding, produce a valid working prototype, multiple comprehensive reports are written, papers are published, etc, all&nbsp;according to pre-agreed workplan objectives...but it seems afterwards as if no one ever wanted to use the result.&nbsp; Which brings up the question of why was this project initiated and funded to begin with? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font size="1">petet = <font color="#800000"><strong>silylene</strong></font></font></p><p align="center"><font size="1">Please, please give me my handle back !</font></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

<p>Good questions!</p><p>I think the rationale is clear. EVA is a risky, time consuming, and labour intensive activity.&nbsp; Eliminating as many EVAs by use of both low and high end robotics is a desirable goal.&nbsp; I have In practice, I don't think it is so easy.&nbsp; </p><p>DEXTRE is the nearest so far to a human equivalent teloperated robot.&nbsp; But it can only replace astronauts on some routine tasks, and not on specialist ones.&nbsp; Which may be why it hasn't been used yet.&nbsp; EVAs to date have been associated with space station assemby, well beyond its capability.&nbsp; Once construction is finshed it may see more use.</p><p>DEXTRE, in addition to being an operation item, is an experiment in its own right, one in the validity of using high level telerobotics to replace EVAs.&nbsp;In practice it may not be so&nbsp;if after 10 years DEXTRE is only used for one EVA in 10 the experiment may have successfully shown that this is not a useful approach, which will be an important lesson</p><p>It is important to remember that DEXTRE has an operational cost, well beyond its dollar investment.&nbsp; It masses 1.5 tonnes and consumes 1.5 kW.&nbsp; This is not such an issue on the ISS which is large and has power to spare, but for Moon and Mars missions there may be better ways to use that mass and power.</p><p>cheers</p><p>Jon</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[ThereIWas2]

<p>1.5 TONS!?</p><p>&nbsp;Do you suppose it might be the tiniest bit overengineered?</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><span class="postbody"><span style="font-style:italic"><br /></span></span></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>1.5 TONS!?&nbsp;Do you suppose it might be the tiniest bit overengineered?&nbsp; <br />Posted by ThereIWas2</DIV></p><p>I doubt it.</p><p>Jon&nbsp; </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

<p>Just discovered this&nbsp; news item</p><p>http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/12/18/dextre-power.html</p><p>Trials of&nbsp;DEXTRE are delayed until after Feburary.</p><p>Jon</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>