RFP-FY-23-31 Device for the Haptic Control of Robots

The IOSM Robotics Facility at the Westcott Venture Park offers capabilities that allow companies and institutes the ability to perform representative IOSM operations. Primarily utilising a pair of robotic arms mounted on low friction rails simulating low gravity environments for spacecraft, the facilities will allow the Catapult to test and validate capability for both those who may operate in orbit and those who will control spacecraft performing IOSM functions. Supporting the facility is a secondary robotic laboratory for development and testing of concepts and a virtual engineering environment consisting of simulation and digital twin software, virtual reality headsets and ancillary equipment.

Scope

The haptic device is expected to offer the following features:

• 6 degrees of freedom (3x translational, 3x rotational); all to be active
• 1 active gripping degree of freedom (to enable gripping mechanisms directly from the haptic device)
• Resolutions to be:
• translation < 0.01 mm
• rotation 0.09 deg
• grasping 0.006 m
• Payload forces to be a minimum of:
• translation 10 N
• Interface: manufacturers standard but expected to be compatible with Universal Robot e-series, Polyscope 5.9 and above
• Power supply: 240V AC 50Hz
• Software: to be compatible with Microsoft Windows, Ubuntu Linux, Python, MatLab Simulink & ROS
• Device should be free standing without the need for additional support (if this is not the case, the supplier must state this and include for a support stand)

The supplier is expected to include in their offer:

• Haptic device
• Support stand (if required)
• Necessary cabling to connect power and the haptic device to a host PC/device
• Delivery to the address shown
• All software (and associated APIs) to include perpetual licensing consideration
• User documentation
• Warranty for 1 year