Space Robotics: The State of the Art and Future Trends

本書呈現了來自全球領先的太空機器人研究者的最新研究成果，以及來自主要太空系統產業界人士對太空機器人研究與開發實務方面的貢獻。本書還考慮了未來的挑戰和趨勢，以提供對太空機器人的前瞻性展望。歐洲委員會在其旗艦資助計畫Horizon 2020中設立了「太空機器人技術」戰略研究集群（SRC），旨在促進太空機器人技術的戰略關鍵點的重大進展，以提升歐洲的競爭力。近年來，太空機器人技術迅速發展，這在最近成功的太空探索任務中得到了體現，例如NASA成功將好奇號探測器著陸並運行於火星，以及歐洲太空局成功將其菲萊探測器著陸於67P/丘留莫夫-捷拉西門科彗星。這些進展激勵了許多年輕的畢業生和在校生學習太空機器人技術。

Xiu-Tian Yan is Professor of Mechatronic Systems Technology at the University of Strathclyde. He was Chairman of Robotics and Mechatronics TPN of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. In the course of 30 years in the field, he has developed novel research approaches to mechatronic system design, including the development and application of "mechatronic design process models", modeling and simulation of these systems, and techniques for prototyping them for validation.

His research interests include mechatronic systems design, robotics (especially in multi-perspective mechatronic system modeling), design and simulation, computer support mechatronic systems design using AI techniques, the proactive computer support of product life-cycle synthesis, system generalization and configuration design, and constraint-based insightful engineering design support. He has published over 270 journal and conference papers and has edited or co-authored five books on mechatronics, advanced design and manufacture.

Dr Gianfranco Visentin has been with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the last 25 years. Since getting started at the ESA he has been with the Automation and Robotics (A&R) group working in support of ESA robotics projects. He has participated in the development of the European Robot Arm (ERA), the Columbus Microgravity Facilities, the EUROBOT system (which he initiated) and the ExoMars project. His research and development (R&D) efforts have covered the whole spectrum of technologies needed for space A&R, including: conventional robotics platforms (rovers, robot arms), alternative robotic platforms (moles, aerobots, walking robots), robot autonomy, teleoperation and remote control (robot programming stations, exoskeletons), perception (computer vision) and robot subsystems (robot joints, controllers). He is the inventor of some original space concepts such as 3D digital camcorders (2 used on board the International Space Station), arm exoskeletons for space use, and capture of space debris by means of throw nets. In his current post Dr Visentin is responsible for the ESA's technology domain for Automation and Robotics. He is chair/co-chair of the ASTRA and iSAIRAS conferences, which are the primary forums for discussing ideas and advances in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in space. He is currently coordinator of the European Commission (EC) funded project PERASPERA, which provides the EC with the roadmap for developments within the H2020 space robotics technology Strategic Research Cluster.

Xiu-Tian Yan 是斯特拉斯克萊德大學的機電系統技術教授。他曾擔任工程與技術學會機器人與機電一體化技術專業網絡的主席。在這三十年的專業生涯中，他開發了針對機電系統設計的新穎研究方法，包括「機電設計過程模型」的開發與應用、這些系統的建模與模擬，以及用於驗證的原型技術。

他的研究興趣包括機電系統設計、機器人技術（特別是在多視角機電系統建模方面）、設計與模擬、利用人工智慧技術支援的計算機機電系統設計、產品生命週期綜合的主動計算機支援、系統概括與配置設計，以及基於約束的深刻工程設計支援。他已發表超過270篇期刊和會議論文，並編輯或共同撰寫了五本有關機電一體化、高級設計與製造的書籍。

Gianfranco Visentin 博士在歐洲太空總署（ESA）工作了25年。自從加入ESA以來，他一直在自動化與機器人（A&R）小組工作，支援ESA的機器人項目。他參與了歐洲機器人臂（ERA）、哥倫布微重力設施、EUROBOT系統（他發起的項目）以及ExoMars項目的開發。他的研究與開發（R&D）工作涵蓋了太空自動化與機器人所需的各種技術，包括：傳統機器人平台（探測車、機器人臂）、替代機器人平台（鑽地機、空中機器人、步行機器人）、機器人自主性、遙操作與遠程控制（機器人編程站、外骨骼）、感知（計算機視覺）以及機器人子系統（機器人關節、控制器）。他是一些原創太空概念的發明者，例如3D數位攝影機（有兩台用於國際空間站）、用於太空的臂外骨骼，以及通過投擲網捕捉太空垃圾。在目前的職位上，Visentin博士負責ESA的自動化與機器人技術領域。他是ASTRA和iSAIRAS會議的主席或共同主席，這些會議是討論太空中人工智慧與機器人技術的主要論壇。他目前是歐洲委員會（EC）資助的PERASPERA項目的協調人，該項目為EC提供H2020太空機器人技術戰略研究集群的發展路線圖。