New robotic arm promises to mind Newton's third law

Don't you hate it how simply moving a robotic arm in a microgravity environment can produce enough negative reaction forces to alter a spacecraft's orientation? Well, a group of researchers from Cornell University have now devised a new type of robot arm that they say could make that pesky problem a thing of the past. To do that, they've employed a device known as a control-moment gyroscope (or CMG) instead of a motor to control the arm's joints, which not only reduces the amount energy required to move the arm, but lets it move faster as well. As you can see above, they've already tested the arm on board NASA's famous Vomit Comet, but there's no indication just yet as to when or if the arm will actually see action in space.
















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Derek @ Aug 7th 2008 4:12PM
"Don't you hate it how simply moving a robotic arm in a microgravity environment can produce enough negative reaction forces to alter a spacecraft's orientation?"
O.o
In the future, I will replace my real arms with robotic ones, and take over the earth!
evplasmaman @ Aug 7th 2008 4:16PM
I for one welcome our new robotic armed overlord... Derek...
TOstevo @ Aug 7th 2008 4:19PM
Until the rest of us humans unite and invent "future porn". That should keep your robotic arms distracted long enough for us to strike!
Dillon @ Aug 7th 2008 4:19PM
Ya, I hate that too. Glad I'm not the only one.
Eric @ Aug 7th 2008 4:25PM
yea, those pesky laws of physics are always meddling my plans up!
ventivent @ Aug 7th 2008 4:29PM
What about Asimov's third law? Is it willing to protect its own existence?
dwphoto @ Aug 7th 2008 4:30PM
Oh crap that's so awesome! Totally interest...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Just kidding, beats iPhone news though
fanthem @ Aug 7th 2008 4:40PM
Yeah for now. I bet in a short time though you'll see an article about how this arm learned to dial and make calls from an Iphone.
GreezyG @ Aug 7th 2008 4:39PM
build me a girl robot damnit!!!
GaryZ @ Aug 7th 2008 4:53PM
duh, why bother? just bend the space-time continuum...
kojo87 @ Aug 7th 2008 4:54PM
i totally thought that was a picture of some ridiculous kung-fu battle royale
John De Vries ARMME @ Aug 7th 2008 5:43PM
It would be so awesome to float around like that!
Jon Doe. @ Aug 7th 2008 5:44PM
The third law is very important. I mean it should be a given that you never break wind in an elevator.
Blastar @ Aug 7th 2008 7:23PM
Why would you need such a thing ??
You can just make a very stable (not shaky) arm and that's all !
Except... if you want your low gravity beer not to get wasted !!
Boy that would be terrible.. especially if you have to wait for the next mission to get another pack.
I am sure they find interesting ways to waste money these People in NASA.
skulldriveshaft @ Aug 7th 2008 8:14PM
"which not only reduces the amount energy requied to move the arm"
All word processor add ons have been disabled for your convenience.
Darwin @ Aug 7th 2008 11:13PM
Maybe it's just too early in the morning for me, but this only explains how to move the arm, not how to counteract the affect of the arm's inertia on the orbiter.
donmark.baker @ Aug 8th 2008 3:16PM
This thing pushes against the gyroscope instead of pushing against the craft, so that the energy is absorbed by the gyro, this keeps the craft in it's normal position. Think about it and I'm sure it'll come to you why this works.
donmark.baker @ Aug 8th 2008 3:16PM
This thing pushes against the gyroscope instead of pushing against the craft, so that the energy is absorbed by the gyro, this keeps the craft in it's normal position. Think about it and I'm sure it'll come to you why this works.
donmark.baker @ Aug 8th 2008 3:17PM
Dad gum comment/reply stuff. Please Fix it!
edgar @ Aug 13th 2008 5:45PM
wow