Fuel channel inspection is critical to safe operation of CANDU reactors. However, the existing techniques used to inspect fuel channels are slow. Fuel channel inspection represents a major bottleneck during maintenance shutdowns of CANDU reactors. To reduce inspection time, it is proposed to develop a robotic inspection system. Multiple copies of this inspection system can be utilized simultaneously to reduce inspection time. In previous work, a proof-of-concept robotic crawler capable of pushing an inspection head through a fuel channel was developed.
Due to the fast mobility of LEO satellites, ground users need to switch between LEO satellites frequently to keep the connection with the satellite network. The process of switching between satellites is called the handover process. Every handover process is associated with signalling overhead, processing delays, and data packet losses. The optimization of the handover process is crucial for an efficient and resilient satellite network. In this regard, intelligent resource allocation can reduce the handover rate while maximizing the network utility and ensuring the satisfaction of users.
Our space-based radio-frequency communication is suffering from the use of simple phase shifters. Its bandwidth capability is limited, ultimately reducing the satellite’s capacity and the system’s service availability. Most electronic beamforming implementations are bulky, frequency dependent and they consume a significant amount of power. To replace those electronic components, structures which guide light on microchips have been suggested and demonstrated to work similarly to how light inside of fiber-optic cables now all brings TV and internet to our homes.
In the near future, a large quantity of satellites will be used to provide Internet and communication services everywhere on Earth. Most of these satellites will be moving at very high speeds on orbits close to Earth which implies the satellites will be moving relative to a user on the ground. As a result, the links between the ground and the satellite will experience frequent disconnections; a user will be disconnected from a satellite rapidly moving out of sight and the connection will be re-established with another satellite coming into view.
Few things in space flight are routine. Before each time MDA operates the International Space Station’s famous Canadarm2, thousands of simulations must be performed to ensure the success and safety of the operation. This research intends to streamline the process of operations planning for Canadarm2 by using machine learning to predict key outputs from these simulations. If a particular case appears problematic, the algorithm can suggest why and allow MDA to focus their efforts on preventing the issue without having to perform a lengthy analysis of all possible cases.
Autonomous mobile robots which are designed to operate in unknown environments, such as Mars or the Moon surface must be robust to unpredictable challenges and capable of making correct decisions to survive. One of the important tasks of rovers is to locate themselves in an environment where no navigation aids such as GPS is available. This is necessary for planning their journey to explore as many scientifically interesting sites as possible.
Space structures must be designed to resist the harsh space environment, which include but it is not limited to atomic oxygen, ionizing radiation, charged particle plasma, man-made debris and micrometeoroids. Thus, the spacecraft must be designed to have high stiffness, low thermal expansion and high dimensional stability. Composite materials can be designed to fulfill those requirements to be used in space applications. Common structures that use composite materials allow for the transfer of information for space research and communication services, such as radio, television and telephone.
Currently, when man-made objects in orbit around the Earth need to be disassembled or repaired, a humancontrolled robotic manipulator is used. The object in question is often not designed to be modified in this manner, and only 1 in 4 human operators at MDA (the partner organization) are able to successfully complete these notoriously challenging tasks. The goal of the proposed project is to design a computer program to learn from the successful human operators with the end result being a novel artificial intelligence that can perform these repairs autonomously, i.e.
Currently, when man-made objects in orbit around the Earth need to be disassembled or repaired, a humancontrolled robotic manipulator is used. The object in question is often not designed to be modified in this manner, and only 1 in 4 human operators at MDA (the partner organization) are able to successfully complete these notoriously challenging tasks. The goal of the proposed project is to design a computer program to learn from the successful human operators with the end result being a novel artificial intelligence that can perform these repairs autonomously, i.e.
In an alien or possibly hostile environment, the situation awareness of a remote robot operator will be limited. Map information may not be known beforehand. The site may also be in a dynamic state where changes occur in the surrounding in any moment. The main objective of this project is to develop novel technologies to increase situation awareness of remote robot operators and their ability to intuitively interact with the robots for more efficient operations.
