An spaceman on the International Space Station ( ISS ) hassuccessfullycontrolled a robot back here on subaltern planet Earth , a technique recognize as telerobotics . The experiment is authoritative because we may use a exchangeable proficiency to search worlds beyond Earth – such as Mars – in the future .
In this experimentation , ESA ’s Andreas Mogensen – Denmark’sfirst astronaut – was using a force - feedback control organization on the ISS to manipulate a scouter at ESA ’s ESTEC technical centre in Noordwijk , the Netherlands . The four - wheeled rover , anticipate Interact Centaur , has two munition and a TV photographic camera for an “ eye ” so that Mogensen could “ see . ”
Using the accountant system , Mogensen was able to move the golem around , and could “ feel ” when the robot ’s arm met resistance thanks to the tactile force - feedback . Mogensen ’s finish was to place a metallic element peg into a round board , with less than a sixth of a millimeter for fault , in guild to make an electric connecter . He was successful , despite having never used the wanderer before .
The video shows Mogensen controlling the rover . ESA .
On his first effort it took him 45 minutes to complete , but on a 2d go he did it in just 10 minutes – bear witness that the system is fabulously comfortable to pick up .
assume proper force - feedback was the real breakthrough here , despite the immense distances involved . There was a time holdup of about one s between Mogensen and the rover , but sophisticated software program kept it and astronaut in sync .
“ We are very happy with today ’s results , ” said André Schiele , who is conduct the experiment and ESA ’s Telerobotics and Haptics Laboratory , in astatement . “ Andreas wield two over drive , approach path , park and wooden leg - in - hole interpolation , attest preciseness military group - feedback from orbit for the very first time in the chronicle of spaceflight . ”
The rover is seen here inserting the peg . ESA .
In the future , astronaut on the Moon could use telerobotics to search the Earth’s surface while they stay in a home ground . With regardsto Mars , astronaut could orb the Red Planet – possibly on the Martian moon Phobos – and control a rover on the surface in existent - metre . This would set aside much greater scientific operations to be carry out on the surface than potential with current rover . These , such as Curiosity , make dull progress as the sentence holdup can be in the tens of minutes , so commands must be sent up and sway out in diminished increments .
This experiment , therefore , represents a significant step forward in telerobotics . Mogensen himself will be hark back to Earth this Saturday September 12 , having arrived last Friday September 4 .
