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23 May 2003

Apogee

http://www.space.gc.ca

CSA's Electronic Newsletter             May 2003

Part 3 of 4

The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator or Dextre for short
 
Dextre - Canada's New Space Robot named by Minister Rock

On April 23, 2003, Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister
responsible for the Canadian Space Agency proudly announced the new
official name of Dextre or Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator as
it is known by its technical name. 

Dextre is the third and last component of the Mobile Servicing
System, Canada's contribution to the International Space Station.
Dextre is a complex robot designed to perform intricate maintenance
and servicing tasks on the outside of the ISS. 

MD Robotics, located in Brampton, Ontario, is the main contractor of
the Dextre. The technology behind Dextre is built upon the heritage
of its predecessor, Canadarm2. Conceptually the two robots are
similar and they both operate with the support of computers; however,
their design and purpose are different. 

With Mag Iskander, MD Robotics, and Diane St-Jacques, federal MP for
Shefford, present Minister Rock saluted the expertise of our
industrial team in space robotics which is recognized beyond Canada's
borders and is continuing to drive Canadian innovation. 

Scheduled for launch in 2005, Dextre is a highly advanced,
relocatable two-armed robot designed to be placed either on the end
of Canadarm2, on the Mobile Base, or on the Station to perform
external maintenance on the International Space Station. 

For more information on Dextre please go to:

Dextre - Canada's New Space Robot
Dextre (Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator)
Dextre (technical information)

Pictures and animation:

Picture of the Canadian Dextre
Dextre technical illustration



A Canadian Space Program Success Story: That Magic Touch

Space research and technology has numerous applications not only in
space but also on Earth. Read about a Canadian space story success in
space technology. 

An innovative, pressure-sensing technology--developed to give robotic
limbs on the International Space Station a keener sense of touch--is
also making its presence felt in distinctly down-to-earth
applications such as music, health and graphic arts. 

Developed by Canpolar East, in cooperation with the Canadian Space
Agency (CSA), KINOTEX gives robotic limbs the sensitivity to perform
tasks requiring human dexterity. Without a human sense of touch, the
robot's limbs could collide when working in close proximity to one
another. Similarly, if an astronaut accidentally misjudged size,
distance or a visual clue, a robotic limb could inadvertently crush
an object in its grasp. 

KINOTEX overcomes this challenge by enabling the robotic limb to halt
a motion before any damage occurs. 

Often referred to as "smart skin", KINOTEX is really a network of
fibre optic threads, each thinner than a human hair, sandwiched
between layers of foam. Move the foam and a computer interprets the
results with uncanny sensitivity. KINOTEX has proven so effective it
may eventually cover entire robotic limbs--just like skin--to provide
the tactile feedback that astronauts require in space. 

Here on Earth, KINOTEX is already giving us a new way to control
toys, tools, instruments and computers. For example, some laptop
computers now use a KINOTEX touch pad in place of a mouse. You
control the pointer simply by running your finger over the pad. The
pad interprets and reacts to the touch and placement of each finger. 

A California company recently turned the touch pad into a mixing
board for musicians, and suppliers of videogame controllers are
looking at the KINOTEX pad to replace joysticks and game pads. Other
possibilities include mattresses that detect and respond to
restlessness, carpets that recognize you when you enter a room and
couches that turn on the TV set automatically when you sit down. 

KINOTEX also has the potential to revolutionize health care products.
Tactex Controls has obtained a license from Canpolar East to
incorporate Kinotex as sensors for beds and chairs to help prevent
falls, and for medical training accessories to enhance the early
detection of breast cancer. 

Increasingly, it appears that the cooperation that led to the
development of this especially smart skin is proving to be a really
smart move. 

 - Continued -

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