Technology

JAXA has experienced technology remote control equipment for the construction of the lunar base

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA) conducted tests of autonomous and remote control of construction equipment, which will be needed to build a research base on the surface of the satellite of our planet. Reports a press release on the JAXA website. According to the source, the project to develop the necessary technologies began in 2016, with the involvement of some schools and universities in Japan. Technology testing was conducted at various construction sites.

JAXA believes that remote technologymanaging the construction process beyond Earth, for example, on the Moon or Mars, will be an important means for colonization. However, in this case, it is necessary to compensate for the delay in the transfer of commands to construction equipment from the Earth, which otherwise would cause a decrease in efficiency and productivity.

On Earth, such technologies can also be useful,as they will compensate for the shortage of skilled labor in the construction industry, which is traditionally focused on human labor.

The agency said that for work on the satelliteLands first need excavators and tractors with a remote control system that will allow you to perform the most complex tasks in the deployment of the database:

  • Clear the surface to create platforms for the installation of residential, as well as scientific and other modules;
  • Excavate the surface for safe and secure installation;
  • Install modules;
  • Screen modules from external effects of cosmic radiation, meteorites and other factors due to the soil present on the surface of the planetary body.

Japanese engineers from JAXA modified groundunits of this equipment (weighing 7 tons each), installing a remote control system on them and making it partly autonomous. Employees of the Japanese Agency also equipped the mechanisms with special sensors that allow you to automatically determine the location of the equipment on the lunar surface. With their help, the technician can independently calculate the optimal route of movement and perform part of the work without human intervention. Such sensors also compensate for possible interruptions in receiving signals from the command center, which will arrive with a delay of several seconds due to the large distance between the planet and the satellite.

Technique, which was modified for remote and partially autonomous control

“During the tests, variousoperations. We checked the possibility of automated movement of equipment, as well as a remote control system. Tests have confirmed that this technique is suitable for the construction of the lunar base, "- explained in a press release JAXA.

Now the agency is going to start addressing issues related to the delivery of equipment to the moon, the total weight of which may amount to several tens of tons.

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