Advancement of Material Handling Technologies for In-Place Asphalt Pavement Recycling
New technologies for asphalt pavement resurfacing are improving dramatically with the advancements being made to related equipment technologies. This paper focuses on the recent developments...
A New Robotic System Concept for Automating Highway Maintenance Operations
The purpose of this paper is to present the Tethered Mobile Robot (TMR) concept, a new robotic system for automating highway maintenance operations. The operational requirements of this...
Real-Time Control for a Robotic Rebar Bender
Job conditions and variability in the properties of the stock material combine in a rebar bending operation to create a challenging environment for a robotic bender. This paper reports...
Sensing and Control for Robotic Masonry
Due to kiln firing in the brick fabrication process, bricks vary in color, texture, and size. In an effort to automate masonry, sensing and control modules are required to ensure a normal...
Computer-Assisted Coal Mining ? An Overview
The U.S. Bureau of Mines was created to conduct research to improve the health, safety, and efficiency of the coal and metal mining industries. In 1986, the Bureau embarked on a new, major...
A Real-Time Control Network for Robotic Mining
The application of computers and computer networks to coal mining machines is one approach the U.S. Bureau of mines is pursuing to enhance safety for the coal miner while at the same time...
Robotic Options for Mining of Near-Earth Objects
The mining and processing of a Near-Earth Object (NEO) should be as simple and as robust as possible - the fewer processes and parts the better. Reliability and survivability of the total...
The Engineer Vehicle Tele-operation Capability
The Tank-Automotive Robotics Office develops remote and autonomous ground vehicle systems for the U.S. Army. We specialize in command and control of mobility platforms and overall system...
Use of GPS for Tethered Satellite Position Determination
This paper provides a description of the potential application of GPS to determine the position of a tethered satellite with respect to the Space Shuttle. Relative positioning is performed...
Design Techniques for Rectangular Lunar Modules
This paper discusses relevant issues concerning the design and performance of cubical lunar modules. Previously, these modules have shown to be a possible solution for living and working...
Interactions Between the Space Station Freedom Attitude Control System and Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator Controller During On-Orbit Assembly Operations
This paper presents the results of dynamics and control interaction analyses involving the Space Shuttle Orbiter, the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS), and the Space Station Freedom...
The Effect of Mobile Transporter Motion on the Space Station Attitude Control System
The effect of Mobile Transport (MT) motion on Space Station stability and the performance of the Attitude Control System (ACS) using Control Momentum Gyros (CMGs) is assessed. Analysis...
Microgravity Research in a Space Station Environment
A broad class of scientific experiments have evolved which utilize extreme low acceleration environments. A space station can provide such a `microgravity' environment, in conjunction...
Adaptive Space Station Technologies and Systems for a Lunar Surface Return Mission
The current global economic climate, in particular that of the United States, has impacted all aspects of government spending. Wise use of existing, as well as near-term planned, assets...
In-situ Extraction of Lunar Soil Volatiles
Techniques for their recovery and utilization of the potentially valuable solar-wind elements embedded in the lunar regolith have been proposed. In order to acquire quantities of 3He...
Energy Analysis of High Temperature Lunar Manufacturing Processes
This paper presents an energy analysis methodology to optimize the power system requirements for high temperature manufacturing processes on the moon. Power requirement and power system's...
TOPAZ II System Description
The TOPAZ II single-cell thermionic space reactor power system was designed, built and tested by the former Soviet Union (Russia). It has been purchased by the United States (U.S.) for...
TOPAZ II Qualification and Nuclear Testing Program
This paper presents an overview of the Topaz II qualification and nuclear test program. The program combines the joint efforts and resources of Russian and American specialists and organizations...
A Comparison of Propulsion Systems for Space Exploration
There are three promising propulsion systems that might be used for space missions: chemical, direct nuclear, and nuclear electric. Selecting the best system for a mission involves comparing...
Propulsion Systems for Future Space Exploration
There are many types of propulsion that are being considered for future space travel needs. These include nuclear, solar sail, magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters, and laser propulsion...
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