Engineering for the Red Planet | TC Sessions: Robotics + AI 2020 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

A discussion on the career trajectory of Lucy, a general manager from Maxar, and the development of robotic arms for space missions.

Key Insights

• 🎟️ Building robotic arms for space missions requires overcoming technological and environmental challenges, and it involves extensive testing to ensure functionality and mission success.
• 👍 Maxar collaborates with startups and universities to leverage new technology while also incorporating flight-proven components to balance risk.
• 🦺 Autonomy plays a significant role in the operation of robotic arms, allowing for human supervision and decision-making. Fail-safes are in place to ensure safety and success.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How do the robotic arms on Mars continue to function over the years?

The robotic arms are designed to be mission-critical and must survive the harsh conditions of space. They undergo extensive testing on Earth, including thermal vacuum chambers and vibration testing, to ensure their functionality.

Q: How does Maxar balance using flight-proven heritage components versus incorporating new technologies?

Maxar strives to balance the use of proven components and new technologies. They partner with startups and universities to leverage new technology while also ensuring mission success by incorporating flight-proven components when necessary.

Q: How does autonomy play a role in the operation of robotic arms in space?

Robotic arms have supervisor autonomy, allowing for human input and decision-making. However, they also have fail-safes in place to ensure their safety and success, considering the time delay in communication between Earth and Mars.

Q: What skills are valuable for those looking to enter the space industry?

Skills in autonomy and software development are becoming increasingly valuable in the space industry. Having a combination of mechanical design knowledge with software and controls expertise allows for more versatility and opportunities.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Lucy started as an intern at Maxar in 2001 and worked her way up to becoming a general manager, overseeing the development of robotic arms for space missions.

• Maxar has five robotic arms currently operating on Mars, with two of them still functioning today on the Curiosity rover and the InSight Lander.

• Building robotic arms for space missions involves overcoming challenges such as changing technological requirements, environmental concerns, and the need for autonomy.