Space Robotics Research: Past, Present and Future

Space robotics is an emerging research field that builds on knowledge of space engineering, terrestrial robotics, computer science and engineering, etc. This talk presents the evolution of robotics applied to near-Earth and interplanetary missions since the 1960s and helps to demonstrate the invaluable roles played by different robot forms in space - notably rovers, manipulators, samplers and drillers. It aims to unwrap key technologies within these space robotic systems by giving a comprehensive introduction to the underlying research topics in robotic vision, locomotion, navigation, mechanisms, and so on. The talk also covers over-the-horizon research in space robotics for meeting future space mission demands and trends.