Event

Lockheed Martin Robotics Seminar: Robotics and Autonomy: The Future of Humans in Space

Friday, March 6, 2020
2:00 p.m.
2121 JM Patterson
Ania Picard
301 405 4358
appicard@umd.edu

Lockheed Martin Robotics Seminar

Robotics and Autonomy: The Future of Humans in Space

Julia Badger
Project Manager 
Robotics and Intelligence for Human Spacecraft Team
Vehicle Systems Manager (VSM) System Manager
Gateway Program
NASA-Johnson Space Center

Abstract
Designs are underway for the next human outpost in space, in the form of a habitat in lunar orbit. This “Gateway” to deep space human presence represents a paradigm shift in human spaceflight. Unlike the continuously crewed International Space Station, the Gateway will be uncrewed for 11 months of the year, but like the ISS, it is expected to remain operational during this time. Adding in a new ground operations tempo and periods with reduced communications bandwidth, the Gateway will require an unprecedented amount of autonomy for a complex, human-rated spacecraft. This talk will discuss the research and development in support of the autonomous system management architecture and robotics elements that will be essential to the success of this next chapter of human space exploration.

Host

David Akin 

Biography
Dr. Julia Badger is the Project Manager for the Robotics and Intelligence for Human Spacecraft team and the Vehicle Systems Manager (VSM) system manager for the Gateway program at NASA-Johnson Space Center. She also serves as the Autonomous Systems Technical Discipline Lead for JSC. She is responsible for the research and development of humanoid robotic (Robonaut) and autonomous system capabilities, on the Earth, the International Space Station, the Gateway, and for future exploration, that include dexterous manipulation, autonomous spacecraft control and caretaking, and human-robot interfaces. Julia has a BS from Purdue University, and an MS and PhD from the California Institute of Technology, all in Mechanical Engineering. Her work has been honored with several awards, including NASA Software of the Year, Early Career, and Director’s Commendation Awards.