New robotic arm promises to mind Newton's third law
By Donald Melanson 
posted Aug 7th 2008 4:04PM
posted Aug 7th 2008 4:04PM
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.
wow
"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!
I for one welcome our new robotic armed overlord... Derek...
Until the rest of us humans unite and invent "future porn". That should keep your robotic arms distracted long enough for us to strike!
Ya, I hate that too. Glad I'm not the only one.
yea, those pesky laws of physics are always meddling my plans up!
What about Asimov's third law? Is it willing to protect its own existence?
Oh crap that's so awesome! Totally interest...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Just kidding, beats iPhone news though
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.
build me a girl robot damnit!!!
duh, why bother? just bend the space-time continuum...
i totally thought that was a picture of some ridiculous kung-fu battle royale
It would be so awesome to float around like that!
The third law is very important. I mean it should be a given that you never break wind in an elevator.
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.
"which not only reduces the amount energy requied to move the arm"
All word processor add ons have been disabled for your convenience.
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.
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.
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.
Dad gum comment/reply stuff. Please Fix it!