Mobile remote manipulator vehicle system

Abstract

A mobile remote manipulator system 10 is disclosed for assembly, repair and logistics transport on, around and about a space station square bay truss structure. The vehicle is supported by a square track arrangement supported by guide pins integral with the space station truss structure 12 and located at each truss node 40. Propulsion is provided by a central push-pull drive mechanism 20 that extends out from the vehicle one full structural bay over the truss and locks drive rods 38 into the guide pins 30. The draw bar is now retracted and the mobile remote manipulator system is pulled onto the next adjacent structural bay. Thus, translation of the vehicle is 'inchworm' style. The drive bar can be locked onto two (2) guide pins while the extendable draw bar is within the vehicle and then push the vehicle away one bay providing bi-directional push-pull drive. The track switches 28 allow the vehicle to travel in two (2) orthogonal directions over the truss structure which coupled with the bi-directional drive, allow movement in four (4) directions on one plane. The top layer of this tri-layered vehicle is a logistics platform 16. This platform is capable of 360 degrees of rotation and will have two (2) astronaut foot restraint platforms 18 and a space crane 14 integral.