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This paper describes a hardware-in-the-loop simulation of massive-payload manipulation on orbit using a masterslave teleoperation system. The main problems in teleoperating a space robot arm from the earth to manipulate a massive payload are communication delay, unexpected excessive force generated between the slave arm and the payload, and geometric/dynamic modeling error. In order to overcome those problems, a teleoperation system using mixed force and motion commands is discussed. The teleoperation system is verified by performing hardware-in-theloop simulations.

This paper presents the development of mobile transportation robot, i-Explore which has been designed and built by ART (Assistive Robot Team) in University of Hartford since 2018. The main objective of i-Explore is to assist and carry children who have severe physical disabilities in indoor environments, especially for domestic uses. In this paper, the mechanical design and building processes of i-Explore which focused on fast reactiveness and low-cost manufacturing as its main technical design requirements are described first. Then, the kinematic analysis and its implementation in the low-level body controller of the mobile robot are described. Lastly, i-Explore is tested and evaluated both in cleaned and cluttered works spaces with its semi-autonomous motions which are designed for the robot’s navigation in human centered environments.