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Scalable Gravity Offload System

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
 Program Year/Program:
2011 / STTR
Agency Tracking Number:
090088 		Solicitation Year:
2009 		Solicitation Topic Code:
T6.02 		Solicitation Number:
Small Business Information
Astrobotic Technology, Inc.
4551 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3524
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 2
Fiscal Year: 2011
Title: Scalable Gravity Offload System
Agency: NASA
Contract: NNX11CC65C
Award Amount: $599,259.00
 

Abstract:

A scalable gravity offload device simulates reduced gravity for the testing of various surface system elements such as mobile robots, excavators, habitats, and deployables in a relevant environment. The device is capable of simulating reduced gravity over an arbitrary terrain including such features as slopes, obstacles, and varying surface concavity. The device consists of a linear movement system, a 2 degree-of-freedom manipulator, a passive force application mechanism, and a position tracking mechanism. The manipulator travels along the linear movement system and is positioned perpendicular to the linear movement system's direction of travel. The result is a rectangular working area whereby the gravity offload device can simulate reduced gravity in the area defined by the length of the linear movement system by the width (reach) of the 2 degree-of-freedom manipulator. The force application mechanism is principled upon precision maintenance of a pressure in an air cylinder. Precision regulation of supply pressure enables constant force over the throw of the air cylinder. Varying the regulator supply pressure to the air cylinder(s) modifies the force experienced by the test article and therefore enables a gravity offload device to simulate a range of gravity fields proportional to the ability to regulate pressure.

Principal Investigator:

William ". Whittaker
Principal Investigator
4122686559
red@cmu.edu

Business Contact:

David Gump
Business Official
4126823282
david.gump@astrobotictech.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

Astrobotic Technology, Inc.
4551 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3524

EIN/Tax ID: 262383764
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
Research Institution Information:
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3815
Contact: Kim Basile