Canadian Space Agency Automation & Robotics Testbed

Eric Jackson was the Project Manager and Chief Engineer on this project.

While at International Submarine Engineering, Ltd., Eric Jackson and his team of engineers competed for and won a number of competitive projects under the Canadian Space Agency's STEAR (Strategic Technologies in Automation & Robotics) program. Under the STEAR 3, STEAR 5, and STEAR 12 programs, the group conceived, designed, and built the CSA Automation and Robotics Testbed (CART).

The CART consists of two 7-degree-of-freedom electric manipulators, which emulate the kinematic configuration of the CSA Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator (SPDM) system (see http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/default.asp) and an open-architecture hierarchical controller to allow interfacing of various sensors and user interfaces.

The CART facilitates the diffusion of automation & robotics technologies and research developments throughout the CSA and beyond and provides CSA scientists and engineers with the tools to further refine and test automation and robotics technologies to support specific space missions.

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