Aerospace Robotics, 2013
Selected Papers from I Conference on Robotics in Aeronautics and Astronautics
GeoPlanet: Earth and Planetary Sciences Series

This book presents the most important and crucial problems of space automation in context of future exploration programs. These programs could involve such issues as space situational awareness program, planetary protection, exploitation of minerals, assembly, manufacturing, and search for new habitable location for next human generations. The future exploration of Space and related activities will involve robots. In particular, new autonomous robots need to be developed with high degree of intelligence. Such robots would make space exploration possible but also they would make space automation an important factor in variety of activities related to Space.

Space Robotics and its Challenges.- Comparing locally energy-optimal Newton algorithms to steer driftless systems.- Simulation and visualization of attitude control system operation for BRITE-PL satellite.- Laser photography in selective space imaging and navigation.- The experimental results of the functional tests of the mole penetrator KRET in different regolith analogues.