Autonomous Robotic Construction, Material Handling, and Assembly of Lunar or Mars Habitats

NASA JSC seeks to advance technology associated with autonomous robotic construction, material handling, and assembly techniques. We have one of the world's largest seven degree of freedom (DOF) serial manipulators that was originally used for Astronaut training for International Space Station (ISS) Assembly and has been dormant for a number of years. This significant asset has been identified for divestment as a training facility and is available to study autonomous material handling and construction techniques. Example tasks may include unloading cargo from a lander, positioning (assembling) elements relative to each other, loading cargo on a launcher, and construction of facilities (habitats, propellant processing, laboratories, light manufacturing, etc.). Researching methods to perform tele-operated robotics with delay tolerant communication, robotic autonomy during periods of human spacecraft or planetary habitat dormancy and intuitive human robotic interfaces are all areas to

utilize the unique NASA serial manipulator.JSC is also interested in comparison of serial and parallel robot utility as an autonomous precursor to human settlement, evolving into human / robot collaborative environments.Technology:The JSC is working on automation and robotics aspects of the exploration architecture, which now includes a Moon-orbiting Deep Space Gateway and ultimately the exploration and utilization of the Moon and Mars. The primary technology challenges include increasing the level of autonomy available to carry out complex tasks (construction, assembly, and material handling) with minimal human supervision.R&D Status:The technology associated with the current assets are aging. The ISS used man-in-the-loop control for assembly tasks. Path planning and autonomy software tools have advanced since the hardware was built and operated, so upgrading the control strategy and integrating path planning and autonomy tools is the key portion of the partnership.Intellectual Property (IP):A Partner relationship may produce new IP that could be jointly owned by NASA and the partner or may become the property of the partner.This announcement is not to be construed as a Request for Proposal and is not a commitment by the government, nor will the government pay for any information provided. Since this is an Announcement, no evaluation letters or results will be issued to the respondents.Please submit a Statement of Interest Form, https://nasajsc.secure.force.com/StatementofInterest.To view all Co-Development and Partnering Opportunities with the NASA Johnson Space Center please visit our website, https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/partnerships/JSC-Partnership-Gateway.