Duration: 12 months
SpaceAlign is a pioneering project focused on developing trustworthy robotics for the construction, maintenance, and recycling of Large Space Structures (LSS). These structures present unique challenges due to their immense size and the harsh environment of space. SpaceAlign addresses these challenges by advancing robotic self-adaptation techniques and ensuring operational resilience and trustworthiness through the MAPLE-K framework [8,9]. This framework extends the traditional MAPE-K loop by incorporating a "Legitimate" step for validation and verification, ensuring that robotic adaptations maintain resilience and performance standards. The project is centered on four main objectives: developing robotic self-adaptation techniques for modular LSS assembly and disassembly, integrating trustworthiness checkers and runtime verification to ensure operational resilience, promoting sustainable recycling of LSS components, and engaging stakeholders through open-access simulations. By simulating robotic systems capable of disassembling and recycling LSS components, SpaceAlign aligns with the growing need for sustainable space operations. Furthermore, stakeholder engagement with leading European robotic developers ensures the technology meets industry standards and promotes wider adaptation within the European space robotics community. The use case of the Lunar Gateway demonstrates SpaceAlign's capabilities, showcasing robotic systems that autonomously assemble the Gateway from modular components and dynamically manage solar power arrays. These systems also facilitate the Gateway's eventual decommissioning, underscoring SpaceAlign's commitment to sustainability. By addressing the challenges of autonomy, on-orbit assembly, utilization, and decommissioning, SpaceAlign sets new benchmarks in robotic operations for LSS, ensuring European leadership in reliability, innovation, and sustainability in the space sector.
