A group of West Virginia University researchers received an honor from NASA for their testing at the West Virginia Robotic Technology Center in Fairmont, in support of a critical robotic fueling test conducted by researchers at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

The Remote Robotic Oxidizer Transfer Test commanded a robot located at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to connect with a satellite’s fueling port to transfer the fuel oxidizer from the Greenbelt, Maryland, control station. In the final days leading up to the test, a detrimental error alarm was sounding in the robot control system, which, if encountered during the fueling procedure, could lead to a catastrophic failure.

Goddard called on the team in West Virginia to characterize the errors, test them, find a solution and then report back their findings. The team found the error source, corrected the problem and successfully tested the robots.

“This is a great internal recognition for achieving an objective that is critical to the project,” said Thomas Evans, research assistant professor at WVU. “The honor is a testament to the long hours that went into the testing and gives the team well-deserved recognition for their hard work.”

The team included Pat Lewis, who has bachelor’s degrees in computer and electrical engineering from WVU, and Giacomo Marani, both of whom are researchers at the Fairmont facility. They analyzed every log and data piece from the robots, communicated with the manufacturer, found the abnormalities, tested the software and validated their findings.

“It was an honor to be a part of this new research,” said Marani. “As a scientist, I want to pursue new and exciting research, and this will help advance our field of study. To me, this represents the next revolution in robotics.”

The testing done by WVU researchers was pivotal in progressing this research because error testing allowed for the research, which used a hazardous propellant and operated from thousands of miles away from the actual robotic hardware, to be done safely for the first time.

RROxiTT is one of Goddard’s Satellite Servicing Capabilities Office critical project milestones to develop techniques for space robots to bring refueling propellants to the tanks of orbiting satellites. Satellite servicing is a rapidly advancing field of aerospace and mechanical engineering, but is heavily grounded in the robotics field, as it aims to use robots to service the satellites. The robots must be designed to perform precise procedures while being operated remotely or autonomously.

“Autonomous and telerobotic capabilities in space save time and money for NASA and this test helped advance that,” said Marani.

WVU has been working with NASA through the Fairmont facility since 2009 in research and robotics. This type of quick-turnaround testing is a normal function of the Fairmont facility.

“Goddard and our team in Fairmont are working together to help make satellite servicing a reality,” said Evans. “To be honored by NASA for our efforts at WVU and the WVRTC in such a critical robotic operation is a great accomplishment.”

“WVU made this possible by going after the grant in 2009 and continuing to develop the facility through the years,” Evans added. “The support of the faculty and staff on the project has been one of the major keys to our success.”

-WVU-

wbk/09/05/14

CONTACT: Mary C. Dillon, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
304.293.4086, Mary.Dillon@mail.wvu.edu

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