Dexterous Flight Telerobotic Servicer

end effectorIn 1989, Honeybee, along with teammate Ford Aerospace, won the contract to supply the Flight Telerobotic Servicer (FTS) end-of-arm tooling package to Martin Marietta, the FTS prime contractor. The FTS was to be an unmanned system for assembly of Space Station Freedom (the program that ultimately became ISS), with an end-of-arm tooling package comprising end-effectors, tools, change-out mechanisms, fixtures and holsters.

By 1991, we had delivered the Development Test Flight end-effector unit to Martin Marietta. While the FTS was cancelled before completion due to budget cuts, Honeybee's work on the project was instrumental in establishing our reputation as an innovative developer of cutting-edge flight mechanical systems.

The delivered FTS Development Test Flight end-effector unit featured:

  • Two-fault tolerant, man-rated mechanism with redundant motors and force/torque feedback
  • Versatile tool interface, capable of interfacing with both parallel-jaw and rotary tools

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