Darpa makes room on international space station for programmers

Darpa makes room on international space station for programmers

Students, professionals, public sought to create algorithm enabling capture of objects in space.

The absence of presents a significant for precision robotic maneuvering and operations in space. Overcoming some of that challenge may be possible through the development of to simultaneously compensate for this limitation while directing precision operations.

Such algorithms could benefit a variety of space activities, including DARPA’s Phoenix program. A primary goal of Phoenix is to develop and demonstrate technologies to cooperatively harvest and re-use valuable components from retired, nonworking satellites in geosynchronous orbit.

DARPA’s InSPIRE program (International Space Station SPHERES Integrated Research Experiments), is sponsoring the Zero Robotics Autonomous Space Capture Challenge to develop such algorithms. The challenge, which kicks off Mar. 28, asks individuals and teams of programmers from around the world to develop a fuel-optimal control . The algorithm must enable a satellite to accomplish a feat that’s very difficult to do autonomously: capture a space object that’s tumbling, spinning or moving in the opposite direction.

During four, weeklong computer-based rounds, challenge participants will collaborate via the Zero Robotics Website to create a computer algorithm that will be programmed into bowling-ball sized satellites called SPHERES (short for Synchronized Position, Hold, Engage, and Reorient Experimental Satellites) aboard the International (ISS). An object, simulating a Phoenix payload on-orbit delivery system, will be set in motion inside the ISS under varying conditions, such as tumbling or spinning. The algorithm developed will need to direct the SPHERES satellite to approach the moving object and orient itself to contact with the object via Velcro on the SPHERES satellites.

“If a programming team can solve this challenge of autonomous space object capture, it could not only benefit the Phoenix program directly but potentially any space servicing system in the future,” said Dave Barnhart, program manager.

The winners of each round will be invited to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to view the finals via videolink from the ISS, where the four algorithms will be programmed into SPHERES and tested.

More information: For official rules and eligibility click here.

Provided by DARPA

Citation: Darpa makes room on international space station for programmers (2012, March 7) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2012-03-darpa-room-international-space-station.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Bringing satellites out of retirement -The DARPA Phoenix program

0 shares

Feedback to editors