TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Computer Vision Lends Precision to Robotic Grappling (MSC-TOPS-114)

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.

THE TECHNOLOGY:

Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) have developed computer vision software that derives target posture determinations quickly and then instructs an operator how to properly align a robotic end-effector with a target that they are trying to grapple. As an added benefit, the software’s object identification capability can also help detect physical defects on targets. This technology was originally created to aid robotic arm operators aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that relied more heavily upon grappling instructional maneuvers derived from flight controllers on the ground at JSCs Mission Control Center (MCC). Despite the aid of computer-based models to predict the alignment of both robotic arm and target, iterative realignment procedures were often required to correct botched grapple operations, costing valuable time. To solve this problem, NASA’s computer vision software analyzes the live camera feed from the robotic arms single borescope camera and provides the operator with the delta commands required for an ideal grasp operation. This process is aided by a machine learning component that monitors the camera feed for any of the ISSs potential target fixtures. Once a target fixture is identified, proper camera and target parameters are automatically sequenced to prepare for grasping operations.

To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/MSC-TOPS-114

If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/

These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.