Diverse applications of advanced man-telerobot interfaces

Advancements in man-machine interfaces and control technologies used in space telerobotics and teleoperators have potential application wherever human operators need to manipulate multi-dimensional spatial relationships. Bilateral six degree-of-freedom position and force cues exchanged between the user and a complex system can broaden and improve the effectiveness of several diverse man-machine interfaces

The Perceptions of Administrators and Teachers Regarding the Features of Alternative Schools in Georgia

The purpose of the study was to determine the perceptions of administrators and teachers at alternative schools in Georgia of the importance of identified key program features of these schools by comparison with the existence of these features at their own schools. All administrators and teachers at all 117 alternative schools in Georgia that serve disruptive students were mailed surveys for this study. Fifty-six percent of the schools returned completed surveys. Teachers and administrators were asked to rate the importance of 40 features of alternative schools and the existence of these features in their respective alternative schools. Each feature belonged to one of six categories: (1) Leadership, (2) Student Attitudes, (3) School Climate, (4) Student Needs, (5) General Perceptions About Alternative Schools, and (6) Student Services. Biographic data on each administrator and teacher and demographic data on each school were also collected. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used for all statistical analysis. Frequencies and percentages were determined for biographic and demographic data. Means and standard deviations were calculated for the importance and existence of each item for teachers and administrators. A comparison of teachers\u27 and principals\u27 responses for each item was determined using independent t-tests. A mean difference was calculated using dependent t-tests to compare teachers\u27 responses on the importance and existence of each item and administrators\u27 responses on the importance and existence of each item. Results from this study indicated that administrators and teachers perceived 34 of the 40 features identified from the literature were important to alternative schools. The same features were identified as important by both teachers and administrators. The administrators and teachers differed significantly, however, in their perceptions of the importance of 5 of the 40 features of alternative schools. They also differed significantly in their perceptions of the existence of 20 of the 40 features. Administrators at alternative schools in Georgia perceived that 23 of 40 specific features of alternative schools existed to a large or very large extent within their schools, while teachers at alternative schools in Georgia perceived that 15 of 40 specific features of alternative schools existed to at least a large extent within their schools

Force reflecting hand controller

A universal input device for interfacing a human operator with a slave machine such as a robot or the like includes a plurality of serially connected mechanical links extending from a base. A handgrip is connected to the mechanical links distal from the base such that a human operator may grasp the handgrip and control the position thereof relative to the base through the mechanical links. A plurality of rotary joints is arranged to connect the mechanical links together to provide at least three translational degrees of freedom and at least three rotational degrees of freedom of motion of the handgrip relative to the base. A cable and pulley assembly for each joint is connected to a corresponding motor for transmitting forces from the slave machine to the handgrip to provide kinesthetic feedback to the operator and for producing control signals that may be transmitted from the handgrip to the slave machine. The device gives excellent kinesthetic feedback, high-fidelity force/torque feedback, a kinematically simple structure, mechanically decoupled motion in all six degrees of freedom, and zero backlash. The device also has a much larger work envelope, greater stiffness and responsiveness, smaller stowage volume, and better overlap of the human operator's range of motion than previous designs

Satellite Test Assistant Robot (STAR)

A three-year, three-phase program to demonstrate the applicability of telerobotic technology to the testing of satellites and other spacecraft has been initiated. Specifically, the objectives are to design, fabricate, and install into the JPL 25-ft. Space Simulator (SS) a system that will provide the capability to view test articles from all directions in both the visible and infrared (IR) spectral regions, to automatically map the solar flux intensity over the entire work volume of the chamber, and to provide the capability for leak detection. The first year's work, which provides a vertically mobile viewing platform equipped with stereo cameras, will be discussed. Design constraints and system implementation approaches mandated by the requirements of thermal vacuum operation will be emphasized