Honeybee Robotics
Honeybee Robotics Spacecraft Mechanisms Corporation is a small spacecraft technology and robotics company located in Manhattan, New York.[1] It was established in 1983 by Stephen Gorevan[2] and Chris Chapman.[3] Honeybee has particular expertise in developing and operating small mechanical tools used on Mars missions. Some of the robotic devices it has developed and successfully demonstrated on Mars include:
- The Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) instruments used on both Mars Exploration Rovers.[4]
- The Icy Soil Acquisition Device (ISAD), sometimes called the "Phoenix Scoop,"[5] a soil scoop and a precision ice-sampling tool successfully demonstrated on the 2008 Mars Phoenix Lander mission,
- The Sample Manipulation System and Dust Removal Tool used on the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which landed in August 2012.[6]
In addition, they are developing tools to be used to live and work on the moon as part of NASA's Constellation program.[7]
Honeybee is currently developing systems for future missions to Mars,[8] Venus, the moon, two Jovian moons,[8] and asteroid[9] and comet sample return,[10] among others. They have worked with Bigelow Aerospace to develop a preliminary design for a solar array deployment mechanism that would be used on the solar arrays of their Genesis inflatable space habitat. Terrestrial projects include developing mechanisms, installations, and systems for a broad array of clients including Con Edison, the U.S. Navy, Coca-Cola, Nike, and architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro.[11]
External links
- Home page for Honeybee Robotics
- http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/robomars/pdf/6095.pdf
- http://sbir.nasa.gov/SBIR/video/honeybee.html
References
- ↑ Erik Baard, "Alligators Below City? Try Robo-Inchworms", New York Times, BUSINESS: DIARY; Nov 10, 2002
- ↑ Kenneth Chang, "Martian Robots, Taking Orders From a Manhattan Walk-Up," New York Times, November 7, 2004
- ↑ Greg Clark, "Mars Sample Mission -- Here's the Drill," Space.com, posted 11 August 1999
- ↑ http://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/825/touch-and-go-days
- ↑ ISAD page
- ↑ http://msl-scicorner.jpl.nasa.gov/Instruments/SAM/
- ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2008-09-03-lunar-homes_N.htm
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 K. Zacny, G. Paulsen, K. Davis, E. Mumm, and S. Gorevan, Honeybee Robotics Planetary Sample Acquisition, Transfer and Processing Technologies, presented at Mars Sample Return 2008, Lunar and Planetary Science Institute.
- ↑ Derek Sears, , Carl Allen, Dan Britt, Don Brownlee, Melissa Franzen, Leon Gefert, Stephen Gorovan, Carle Pieters, Jeffrey Preble, Dan Scheeres and Ed Scott, "The Hera mission: multiple near-earth asteroid sample return," Advances in Space Research, Volume 34, Issue 11, 2004, pp. 2270-2275 doi:10.1016/j.asr.2003.05.059
- ↑ S. Gorevan, I. Yachbes, P. Bartlett, K.Zacny, G. L. Paulsen, T. Kennedy, B. Basso, and J. Wilson, "Comet and Asteroid Sample Acquisition, Containerization, and Transfer for Sample Return", presented at Spacecraft Reconnaissance of Asteroid and Comet Interiors (2006).
- ↑ Honeybee Robotics Mission Page