1.4 Strategy and Approach

Figure 1-1 Telerobotics program strategic direction

Since its inception, the overall purpose of the Telerobotics Program has been to develop new telerobotics technologies and have those technologies incorporated into operational flight systems. At this point in time, the program has developed a large number of component technologies and terrestrial demonstration systems, but has not yet moved any of these technologies into flight systems. To move between the current position and the desired goal, the program has adopted a multi-tiered strategy.

At the first level, the program continues to implement an ongoing effort in basic technology research and the development of individual robotic components. This element of the strategy will focus on long lead-time items, which may take many years to fully develop and bring to an appropriate level of readiness, yet hold the promise of fundamental breakthroughs in new capabilities and technologies. It is intended that this will result in the periodic "spin-out" of component technologies into other areas of the program for incorporation into operational systems.

The next tier of the strategy targets the implementation of complete robotic systems which simulate actual space operations. This is done by incorporating the component technologies of the first tier and placing them in an application context which can demonstrate the quantitative improvement in operational characteristics (efficiency, capability, cost, speed, command overhead, etc.) imparted by the technologies. At the same time, this element of the strategy provides a capability for high-fidelity simulation of the application environment which will lead to increased confidence in the ability of the robotics technology to perform the target tasks. As the program matures, these simulations and applications will grow progressively more complex and will drive the development of higher levels of system autonomy, flexibility and robustness.

The highest element of the strategy involves the implementation of operational robotic systems and applications. As previously noted, the program does not currently have access to an on-orbit demonstration and development facility. To alleviate that, the program is pursuing the development of a series of flight experiment options which will lead to operational space telerobotic systems. The purpose of these experiments is to demonstrate the technologies developed by the program in an on-orbit environment, and to validate experimental capabilities for incorporation into operational systems. These flight experiments are instituted as "wholly-owned" program activities as well as cooperative projects with potential user organizations. As these flight experiments lead to the implementation of long-term on-orbit robotic systems and facilities, these systems will be utilized as experimental and development testbeds for advanced telerobotic techniques and technologies in addition to their operational role.

At the same time, the program also must fulfill a requirement to maintain relevance to terrestrial needs and opportunities. Specifically, the program must contribute to the growth of the terrestrial robotics industry and the national economic competitiveness of the United States. To address this need, the program strategy includes the development and implementation of a series of terrestrial applications which partner directly with the U. S. robotics industry and contribute to their capability to develop new products, expand product lines and opportunities, and compete in the global market. These projects drive the transfer of technology developed by the program out of the laboratories and into practical terrestrial applications. They are conducted jointly by NASA, industry, and academia.

The elements of the approach used to implement this strategy include:

	Identify and understand planned and potential in-space operations which will take place over the next decade which can be augmented or assisted by telerobotics, and obtain a fundamental understanding of the efficiencies, effectiveness, costs and resource requirements of these planned operations
	Identify and prioritize the existing and undeveloped component telerobotics technologies required to enable, augment or assist these operations, to increase productivity, or decrease costs
	Develop and evaluate telerobotic manipulation and mobility technologies which can: 1) conduct operations in both attached and free-flying modes, 2) conduct science payload maintenance and remote operations, or 3) conduct operations on planetary surfaces
	Develop the required component technologies to a level of readiness and completion sufficient for integration, demonstration and analysis of performance in a realistic system-level simulation, and then implement the technology in a simulation representative of the operational utilization
	Dedicate at least 20% of the program to the development of innovative technologies and approaches which do not currently fit into specific mission requirements, but instead address new capabilities and operations enabled through the development of advanced robotic systems (technology push)
	Demonstrate each of these technologies in a full-system context in as relevant an environment and setting as possible, including high-fidelity simulation and on-orbit flight experiments
	Evaluate the performance of the technology (based on performance metrics defined in conjunction with the user), and provide a quantification of the improvement to the operational capability, safety, cost effectiveness and probability of success of the operation to show that the technology satisfies or supercedes mission needs
	Identify terrestrial applications of dual-use space telerobotics technologies and implement a prototype application for use in evaluating and transferring this technology to terrestrial users
	Design all tasks to utilize a minimalist approach (i.e. use the simplest technology needed to accomplish the task, and do not have one device attempt to satisfy too many criteria) which supports rapid prototyping of the new technology (i.e. perform a demonstration of the targeted application as soon as possible, then follow with a series of demonstrations showing incremental improvement to the overall system)
	Create an infrastructure of robotics expertise and facilities to aid in continuing robotics development by supporting the education and training of future robotics experts, supporting the creation of robotics development laboratories, and focussing on the implementation of practical robotics application projects