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From: mdm@pur-ee.UUCP (Mike D McEvoy)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: dexterity of robots
Message-ID: <3750@pur-ee.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Feb-86 13:09:12 EST
Article-I.D.: pur-ee.3750
Posted: Tue Feb 11 13:09:12 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Feb-86 08:33:56 EST
References: <8602081646.AA04659@s1-b.arpa>
Reply-To: mdm@pur-ee.UUCP (Mike D McEvoy)
Organization: Cybotech Robotics @ Purdue
Lines: 31

In article  dms@MIT-HERMES.ARPA (David M. Siegel) writes:
>While we still have a while to go before a device like the Utah/MIT hand
>could be used to repair a satellite, the time is not so far in the
>future. And if a billions dollars (half the cost of a shuttle) where
>put into the project, I'd guess that a dexterous teleoperator version
>could be built in a handful of years.

Given the current state of the art, 3-4 years minimum to produce a functional
prototype that is designed for orbital operation.  Of course, you need the
shuttle + 2-3 mission specialist to do the debugging and at least two
shuttle missions to debug the thing (I am an incurable optimist)
How do you retrieve the teleoperator and return it to earth for repair?
It is a mechanical device - it will break, more often than planned.
How do you return the non-repairable items? This list does go on.
At some point it becomes more cost effective to add the mission speciallist.

The point is, the two systems are complementary. Having good teleoperator
capability without shuttle technology (some form - orient express, ???)
only solves part of the problem.

We need good teleoperator/robot technology and a good shuttle system.
	
Mike McEvoy
Cybotech Robotics

PS FYI CYBOTECH is a five year old manufacturer of robots and robot 
   based manufacturing systems serving the aerospace, automotive,
   and welding marketplaces. Our sales volume places us in the 
   top 10 list of robot companies. It's a fun place to work.

Usual disclaimers apply.........