Robotic Assembly of Innovative Ocean Structures

The primary technical objective of the Phase I effort is to: design, analyze, and implement a Nestable Truss Structure (NTS) for innovative ocean structural applications, and to integrate the NTS with a robotic crane (RoboCrane) system for automated assembly and disassembly. The proposed tasks include: presenting the military system (and related extensions to civilian and commercial) requirements as specific technical functional and performance requirements; developing concepts in two areas: modular structures and robotic assembly and disassembly; determining technical feasibility with various analytic methodologies; constructing a statis scale model of the proposed modular structural system; and demonstrating a robotically assembled prototype. The project will be leveraged with contributory facilities, systems, software, and expertise through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), with the Robot Systems Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Anticipated Benefits: Benefits: flexible, open, reconfigurable, modular, scalable, multi-purpose, transportable, rapidly deployed designs for ocean structures; robust robotic systems for structural assembly and disassembly. Commercial applications: Modular construction of marine platforms, ships, boats; expedient bridge structures large; transportable shelters.