Magnetically Jointed Module Manipulators: New Concept for Safe Intravehicular Activity in Space Vehicles

Robots for intravehicular (IVA) support are being studied for their potential to reduce the workload of astronauts. IVA support robots must meet strict safety requirements, and they need to be compact to share limited room with astronauts. A magnetically jointed module manipulator (MagMo) solves these problems in a unique manner. The manipulator is not harmful when it contacts humans unexpectedly, because it disassembles by contact force, and it can be easily assembled only when it is needed. In this paper, the basic concept of the MagMo is introduced.