Mechanical conception of the ERICA (ERA Iron bird CLU hArdware simulator)

Abstract: Sending a man in space is extremely dangerous. In order to continue the space exploration, robots have to be used. Designed properly, robots can handle any kind of operations in deep space. But in space there is no support such as an after-sale service. That is why their conception must be as perfect as possible to satisfy many tests. This is also the case of the ERA (European Robotic Arm). Its operations must be tested on the ground. But since forces acting at ground level are different than in space (e.g. gravity), the ERA must be in such position (the Iron Bird project) so that the target that it wants to reach must be brought by another robot. This other robot is called ERICA (Era Iron-bird CLU hArdware simulation). The goal of this project is to make the mechanical conception of the ERICA. The project was carried out in four parts. The first consisted in gathering information about the ERA in order to establish the requirements. The second was a pre-conception part. The third consists in explaining the research that had been made to choose the proper design of the ERICA. In the fourth part, the mechanical and electrical conception is presented. The ERICA is a gantry system where the payload is a gimbal holding a target. That way, the 6 degrees of freedoms of the ERA are achieved. The gantry system is provided by LinMotion and the motors by Maxon. The electronic parts are attached to the gantry at different places. A frame surrounds the working envelope so that the CLU (Camera and Lightning Units) can be fixed on it as well as protective plates against the CLU’s laser.