NASA Contest: Design a “Smart” Fine-Positioning Arm

  • Status: Closed
  • Prize: $4000
  • Entries Received: 11
  • Winner: TriassicXYZ

Contest Brief

Design a “Smart” Fine-positioning Arm (SFA)

In this contest, you are asked to design a “Smart” Fine-positioning Arm (SFA) that will be mounted to Astrobee and move an attached tool to a specific location and command that tool to attach to an ISS Handrail. The SFA receives all power and high-level commands from Astrobee, but implements the following functions autonomously: stowing and deploying from a payload volume, positioning its free end at a specified location near an Handrail and orienting Astrobee by panning and tilting it.

How it works: initially, the SFA will be packed in a stowed configuration. When powered and commanded by the Astrobee, The SFA must be able to autonomously perform three high-level functions. Each function requires a combination of performing operations itself and controlling the operations of the attached tool, as described below:

Attach, starting with Deploy, which involves the SFA unpacking from its stowed configuration in Astrobee’s payload bay and moving to a self-determined location in freespace; commanding the tool to “unpack” and standing by for a confirmation signal; place, which involves the SFA placing its free end (and the attached tool) at a specified pre-attach location near a Handrail; and then commanding the tool to “close” and standing by for a confirmation signal; and relaying that “attachconfirm” signal to Astrobee.

Orient, which involves the SFA panning and tilting Astrobee, as commanded, while the tool secures it to the Handrail; and sending a confirmation when each pan and tilt completes.

Stow, starting with commanding the tool to “release” and standing by for a confirmation signal; withdraw, which involves the SFA withdrawing the tool from the pre-attached configuration and moving it to freespace; commanding the tool to “pack” and standing by for a confirmation signal; and then stow, which involves the SFA repacking in Astrobee’s payload bay (stowed configuration); and sending a confirmation of stow to Astrobee.

Click on the links below to see detailed design instructions, constraints and solution templates for this problem.

Challenge rules:
The prize will be awarded for the lowest mass, technically feasible solution, submitted by the contest deadline.
No working prototype is required for submission, but the design must be sufficiently detailed to allow experts to assess the feasibility of your design (i.e., comply with all requirements) and the credibility of your mass estimate.
Only complete submission packages will be evaluated.

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Employer Feedback

“Triassic R. developed an innovative design for a robotic deployment mechanism. This was a contest and this design was selected from 21 entries as the most feasible and least mass design. We continue to be impressed by Triassic's designs and the high quality of work. ”

Profile image nasacoeci, United States.

Top entries from this contest

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Public Clarification Board

  • nasacoeci
    Contest Holder
    • 5 years ago

    Please join us in congratulating Triassic R. as the winner for this challenge. Thanks to all of the participants for all of your hard work on this challenge. There were some really great designs and the evaluation was not easy. We hope that many of you will participate in the rest of the challenges that we will be posting over the next few weeks.

    • 5 years ago
    1. TriassicXYZ
      TriassicXYZ
      • 5 years ago

      Thank you NASA, I feel very honored to be the winner .

      • 5 years ago
  • nasacoeci
    Contest Holder
    • 5 years ago

    This contest is now closed. Thank you again for all of your hard work on some really great designs. The team will be evaluating the submissions and announcing the winners as soon as we can (likely about 1-2 weeks). There are several other contests currently active with even more launching this month. We look forward to seeing more of this amazing talent! Thanks!

    • 5 years ago
    1. Sumon205
      Sumon205
      • 5 years ago

      Thanks a lot.....

      • 5 years ago
  • Yashaswi26
    Yashaswi26
    • 5 years ago

    #extended

    • 5 years ago
    1. nasacoeci
      Contest Holder
      • 5 years ago

      This contest has already been extended. The current deadline stands. Best of luck!

      • 5 years ago
  • Myrds
    Myrds
    • 5 years ago

    Hello NASA, I just would like to clarify a requirement based on the submission guidelines, particularly Design Drawings #3. Shall we present the tilt and panning while the Astrobee is attached to the Handrail? May I know what is the coordinate of the location where you want the pan and tilt to be shown? Thank you.

    • 5 years ago
    1. nasacoeci
      Contest Holder
      • 5 years ago

      The pan and tilt functionality can only happen when the Astrobee is attached to the ISS Handrail. Please use the location for Design Drawings #2 or any other location that demonstrates your solution works at the extreme locations of the design.

      • 5 years ago
    2. Myrds
      Myrds
      • 5 years ago

      Thank you.

      • 5 years ago
  • Myrds
    Myrds
    • 5 years ago

    Hello NASA, just to clarify, since we are not entitled to create an attaching functionality for this SCA challenge, are we required to use all volume representations in presenting our SCA Designs?

    • 5 years ago
    1. nasacoeci
      Contest Holder
      • 5 years ago

      SFA has no attaching functionality. Assume there is a tool on the end of the SFA which can take any number of those volumes based on your design and sequencing of commands to that tool.

      • 5 years ago
    2. Myrds
      Myrds
      • 5 years ago

      Thank you.

      • 5 years ago
  • Myrds
    Myrds
    • 5 years ago

    #extended, kindly extend, thank you.

    • 5 years ago
    1. nasacoeci
      Contest Holder
      • 5 years ago

      We have extended this contest by 1 week.

      • 5 years ago
    2. Myrds
      Myrds
      • 5 years ago

      Thank you

      • 5 years ago
  • nasacoeci
    Contest Holder
    • 5 years ago

    We have extended this contest by 1 week.

    • 5 years ago
  • alpha2omega
    alpha2omega
    • 5 years ago

    #extended

    • 5 years ago
    1. nasacoeci
      Contest Holder
      • 5 years ago

      We have extended this contest by 1 week.

      • 5 years ago
  • Anamishere
    Anamishere
    • 5 years ago

    What is temperature limit? I mean lowest and highest limit.

    • 5 years ago
    1. nasacoeci
      Contest Holder
      • 5 years ago

      Assume that the system will operate in the pressurized ISS environment, and that humans are nearby and could interact or touch elements.

      • 5 years ago
  • elite116
    elite116
    • 5 years ago

    Hi,I have developed the hand made sheet based design....is it permitted?...other technical details are in PDF

    • 5 years ago
    1. nasacoeci
      Contest Holder
      • 5 years ago

      Yes. Just scan it into your PDF entry.

      • 5 years ago
  • elite116
    elite116
    • 5 years ago

    Hi there,will it be possible if I submit the PDF file of the design image?

    • 5 years ago
    1. nasacoeci
      Contest Holder
      • 5 years ago

      Yes. Submissions will be done via PDF.

      • 5 years ago

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