European Robotic Arm

The European Robotic Arm (ERA, English for European Robotic Arm ) is designed by ESA and built in Europe robotic arm that will operate from the Russian segment of the International Space Station.

Development

The development and construction of the ERA were given as an international project of the ESA contract. Under the leadership of the Dutch principal contractor Dutch Space, several European companies from eight countries participating in the project. The basic idea is to expand the scope of the Canadarm2, because it is not able to move around at the Russian station segment and thus can not reach all areas of the station. Moreover, a redundant system for a possible failure of the Canadarm2 to be created.

Furthermore serves ERA of testing and research ready for use, robotics itself, as it should operate largely autonomously and is the first designed by the ESA system of its kind. The other two robotic arms Canadarm2 and Strela, however, are mainly controlled manually and build on successful predecessor systems.

Start and Installation

According to current plans, the ERA is to be brought aboard a Russian Proton-M rocket from the Baikonur space center from the space station together with the Russian Multipurpose Laboratory Module ( MLM ), also called Nauka. The start of the allocated structure flight 3R ( as of July 2013 ) specified in the NASA flight manifest after numerous delays currently with the 11th December 2013. On the basis of false starts, a Proton rocket on July 2, 2013, now expected to start in the first half of 2014.

Already in the summer of 2006, ERA was delivered to Russia in order to make the integration of the MLM and check the operation of the system. The MLM will be output module for ERA after installation on the ISS and contains several supply points and the steering position, which enables the crew to operate the robot arm from inside the ISS. In addition, it will also be possible outside the station to control the robotic arm during a spacewalk. In the Control Panel from the station inside, just as the IVA -MMI designated (Intra Vehicular Activity -Man Machine Interface), a laptop is used on the serving astronaut can observe the arm and its environment. In the control of the arm during an exit, the EVA -MMI (Extra Vehicular Activity -Man Machine Interface) is a specially adapted control module is used, which is specially designed to operate with bulky gloves of space suits.

Tasks

Following the example of the already installed on the ISS robotic arm Canadarm2 Canadian ERA will be able to operate from various supply points of the Russian segment of. For this ERA is similar find your way around a looper based on the so-called Power and Data Grapple Fixtures. Some of the perceived ERA activities be fully automatically, ie without direct operation by a member of the ISS crew, or run semi-automatically. This is to ensure precise operation and additionally allow the crew to pursue other activities. In addition to inspection work and transport of experiments ERA will also bring the astronauts themselves to their destinations, which allows for much faster locomotion in outdoor applications.

The tasks of the ERA include:

  • Exposure and reintroduction of experiments in free space
  • Inspection and video surveillance of the station
  • Support during spacewalks
  • Installation and installation of solar panels
  • Replacement and repair of solar panels
  • Handling external payloads

Components

  • Two 5 m long, symmetrical arm sections made ​​of CFRP ( limbs, Eng. Limbs )
  • Two identical gripper (English End Effector (EE) ) which can transfer data, power and mechanical drive on payloads
  • Two wrists with three connection points
  • An elbow -like compound
  • A central control computer in the arm ( engl. ERA Control Computer (ECC ) )
  • Four cameras and associated lighting assemblies ( Camera and Light Units ( CLU) )

Specifications

  • Overall length: 11.3 m
  • Operation radius: 9.7 m
  • Mass: 630 kg
  • Maximum payload: 8 tons
  • Maximum movement speed: 0.1 m / s
  • Positioning accuracy: 5 mm
  • Energy consumption: 475 W average, 800 W maximum
  • Operating voltage: 120 V DC
Nauka (ISS module) Strela (crane) Assembly of the International Space Station Pressurized Mating Adapter Destiny (ISS module) External Stowage Platform Mobile Servicing System Quest Joint Airlock Pirs (ISS module) Harmony (ISS module) EXPRESS Logistics Carrier Cupola (ISS module) Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Centrifuge Accommodations Module Habitation Module Interim Control Module ISS Propulsion Module Russian Research Module Science Power Platform NASA X-38
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