SCISYS successfully demonstrates integrated robotics mission operation

As part of the SCISYS led MICCRO project,  in cooperation with the DLR institute of Robotics and Mechatronics and the German Space Operations Centre, a generic operations concept for the integrated, robotic mission operation has been developed. This concept was recently successfully presented in a demonstration environment at DLR Oberpfaffenhofen based on an example implementation.

In a simulation similar to a real On Orbit Servicing Mission SCISYS impressed with how the control of the robotic component could be implemented into future Mission Control Systems (MCS). The Robotic Control System (RCS), based on egmc², is an interface for the transmission of non-real time commands to the SCOS 2000 based MCS. Real time data is also transmitted through the RCS to the Communication Gateway and then transmitted to the platform through virtual communication channels.

As part of the live ground segment demonstration,  automated process commands were sent to the platform in the simulated space segment. The ROKVISS robotic arm was controlled in a force feedback control loop by an operator at the console in the control room after the initialization.
The approach for the integrated operation of robotic missions developed in MICCRO was successfully validated during the live demonstration in the simulation environment built in conjunction with DLR. This project  delivers important knowledge about the design and architecture of the ground segment for future robotic missions.

The MICCRO project is funded by the Space Agency of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) with federal funds from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology in accordance with the parliamentary resolution of the German Parliament. (Grant no. 50RA1015 and 50RA1016)