Tech Briefs Magazine - August 2023 - 35

Robotics & Automation
Portable Laser-Guided Robotic Metrology
A low-cost accurate method for testing antennas.
NASA Glenn Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
A
ntennas are used in many industries
and products where quality and reliability
are crucial. Testing aircraft antennas
is challenging since optimal tests are
made after antenna installation. Aircraft
are often taken to anechoic antenna test
facilities which create long lead times,
transportation hassle, and very high costs.
This makes such testing cost-prohibitive
for early R&D work. Portable alternatives
exist but often have compromised testing
fidelity. Innovators at the NASA Glenn Research
Center have developed the PLGRM
system, which allows an installed antenna
to be characterized in an aircraft hangar.
All PLGRM components can be packed
onto pallets, shipped, and easily operated.
The PLGRM system is designed for
in-situ antenna measurements at a remote
site. Components include a collaborative
(i.e., certified to operate in
close proximity with humans) robot arm
mounted on a vertical lift and a laser
tracker, each on a mobile base. Together,
these components enable scanning
of a surface larger than the reach of the
robot. To accomplish this, the robot first
collects all points within its reach, then
the system is moved, and the laser tracker
is used to relocate the robot before
additional points are captured.
Safety, collision avoidance, and planning
aspects are combined to effectively
characterize such antennas. Software-defined
triggering is also a feature for flexible
integration of network analyzers and
antenna controllers. Laser tracking is
used over photogrammetry to provide
position feedback with higher speed and
lower latency that facilitates online control
of the robotic arm.
While collecting the antenna radiation
data, the system uses pulsed measurements
and time gating to remove
Mind-Controlling Machines
New technology is making mind reading possible with positive implications for the fields of
healthcare, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.
University of Technology Sydney, Australia
R
esearchers from the University of Technology
Sydney (UTS) have developed
biosensor technology that will allow you to
operate devices, such as robots and machines,
solely through thought-control.
The advanced brain-computer interface
was developed by Distinguished Professor
Chin-Teng Lin and Professor Francesca
Iacopi, from the UTS Faculty of
Engineering and IT, in collaboration with
the Australian Army and Defense Innovation
Hub.
In addition to defense applications, the
technology has significant potential in
fields such as advanced manufacturing,
aerospace, and healthcare - for example,
allowing people with a disability to control
a wheelchair or operate prosthetics.
" The hands-free, voice-free technology
works outside laboratory settings, anytime,
anywhere. It makes interfaces such
Tech Briefs, August 2023
The technology was recently demonstrated by the Australian Army, where soldiers operated a
Ghost Robotics quadruped robot using the brain-machine interface. (Image: Australian Army)
www.techbriefs.com
35
unwanted reflections. This lowers the requirement
for fully surrounding the test
area in anechoic foam. The system also
accommodates the possibility of " dirty
power " that may be found at any given
host facility.
The flexibility and portability of this
system while maintaining precision and
accuracy are what make PLGRM unique.
While developed for aerospace, PLGRM
can be used to characterize antenna systems
across a range of applications. Extending
applications beyond just antenna
analysis may also be possible.
NASA is actively seeking licensees to
commercialize this technology. Please
contact Licensing Concierge at AgencyPatent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov
or call
at 202-358-7432 to initiate licensing
discussions. For more information, visit
https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/LEWTOPS-165.

https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/LEW-TOPS-165 http://www.techbriefs.com

Tech Briefs Magazine - August 2023

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