European Robotic Arm

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Computer model of the ERA at work on the ISS

The European Robotic Arm (ERA) is a robotic arm to be attached to the Russian Segment of the International Space Station.

1 Major features and tasks
2 Control of ERA
3 Arm components
4 Project status
5 Technical data
6 External link

[edit] Major features and tasks

The intelligent space robot has several interesting features. Most prominent are its ability to 'walk' around the exterior of the station under its own control, hand-over-hand between pre-fixed basepoints and its ability to perform many tasks automatically or semi-automatically, thereby freeing its operators to do other work. Specific tasks of ERA include:

Installation and deployment of solar arrays
Replacement of solar arrays
Inspection of the station
Handling of (external) payloads
Support of cosmonauts during space walks

The International Space Station already features one robotic arm, the Canadarm2 but because of the different types of basepoints and payload mounting units that arm cannot be used on the Russian part of the ISS.

Developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) by the European space industry with Dutch Space as prime contractor and subcontractors in 8 countries, the robot arm will be launched by a Russian Proton rocket to be put to work in space by the ISS crew. During the launch, ERA is attached to the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM). This Russian module will also serve as home base for ERA during operations with the robot arm.

[edit] Control of ERA

Control and data interfaces of ERA

Cosmonauts can control the robot from both inside as well as outside the space station. Control from inside the space station (Intra Vehicular Activity-Man Machine Interface (IVA-MMI)) uses a laptop which shows a model of the ERA and its surroundings. Control from outside the space station (Extra Vehicular Activity-Man Machine Interface (EVA-MMI)) uses a specially designed interface that can be used while in a spacesuit.

[edit] Arm components

in-orbit replaceable units (ERUs) of ERA

Two approximately 5 metres long, symmetrical arm sections made of carbon fibre ('limbs')
Two identical gripper mechanisms (End Effectors 'EE') also capable of transferring data, power or mechanical actuation to payloads
Two wrists with three joints each
One elbow joint
One central control computer within the arm ('ECC')
Four camera and lighting units ('CLU')