This book presents the most important and crucial problems of space automation in context of future exploration programs. These programs could involve such issues as space situational awareness program, planetary protection, exploitation of minerals, assembly, manufacturing, and search for new habitable location for next human generations. The future exploration of Space and related activities will involve robots. In particular, new autonomous robots need to be developed with high degree of intelligence. Such robots would make space exploration possible but also they would make space automation an important factor in variety of activities related to Space.

This book presents a selection of conference contributions from CARO'13 (Conference on Aerospace Robotics), which was held in Warsaw from July 1 to 3, 2013. It presents the most important and crucial problems of space automation in context of future exploration programs. These programs could involve such issues as space situational awareness program, planetary protection, exploitation of minerals, assembly, manufacturing, and search for new habitable location for next human generations. The future exploration of Space and related activities will involve robots. In particular, new autonomous robots need to be developed with high degree of intelligence. Such robots would make space exploration possible but also they would make space automation an important factor in variety of activities related to Space.

This book presents the most important and crucial problems of space automation in context of future exploration programs. These programs could involve such issues as space situational awareness program, planetary protection, exploitation of minerals, assembly, manufacturing, and search for new habitable location for next human generations. The future exploration of Space and related activities will involve robots. In particular, new autonomous robots need to be developed with high degree of intelligence. Such robots would make space exploration possible but also they would make space automation an important factor in variety of activities related to Space.

This book includes extended versions of original works on aerospace robotics presented at the Conference on Aerospace Robotics (CARO) in Warsaw. It presents recent advances in aerospace robotics, such as manipulators, which are widely used in space for orbital operations, for example, the Mobile Servicing System on the International Space Station and the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System. Such manipulators are operated by astronauts and mounted on large platforms, making the influence of manipulator motion on the state of the platform insignificant. Application of manipulators for capture maneuvers in unmanned On-Orbit Servicing or Active Debris Removal missions requires reliable control algorithms that take into account the free-floating nature of the manipulator-equipped spacecraft. As such the book presents possibilities for using space manipulators for exploration and a variety of space operations. Further, it discusses new methods for the control of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) using vision systems and sensor fusion methodologies. Such autonomous flying vehicles could be used for materials deliveries and emergencies, as well as surveying and servicing.