Computer Motion developed robotic assistants that support surgeons in a number of minimally invasive surgical procedures. Sales of the original design exceeded 300 units generating revenues in excess of $6 million. Under a second SBIR contract, voice control, force sensitive retraction of the robotic arm and other improvements led to a more advanced model that could support a wide range of surgical procedures. Computer Motion merged with Intuitive Surgical to form the leader in operative surgical assistants.
NASA Application
Advanced versions of the robotic surgical assistant may someday carry out surgical procedures in space under the direction of surgeons on the Earth.
Social/Economic Benefit
Robotic surgical assistants have potential application in the nearly one million endoscopic surgical procedures performed each year in the U.S. alone. The technology provides significant cost savings since it eliminates the need for a surgical assistant to hold the laparoscope during surgery and reduce operation times. Also, the steady grip of a robotic arm increases the safety of endoscopic surgical procedures.
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Technology was incorporated into a joy stick application and licensed to Immersion Corporation for game applications. Cybernet Systems also worked with Ford Motor Company, the United Auto Workers and the Air Force/Army Human Engineering on assembly line applications.
NASA Application
The combination of human and robotic skills made possible with Cybernet System's innovation furthered investigator’s understanding of the use of robotics for space assembly work.
Social/Economic Benefit
Operator controlled robots supported by 3-D graphical representations and tactical feedback controllers represent a significant advance toward the use of robotics for a wide range of applications.
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Vexcel’s photogrammetry software processes photographic images of a scene into an accurate three dimensional model. This software is used by engineers to redesign industrial facilities and by artists to animate movie sets. Sales for commercial applications reached $1/2 million annually.
NASA Application
The software provides a simulation testbed for the design of robot vision systems and for simulating their performance.
Social/Economic Benefit
Photogrammetry software provides significant cost savings in the redesign of industrial facilities, animation work with movie sets, and similar applications involving three dimensional scene construction. NASA design work on novel robot computer vision systems is enhanced by the simulation testbed capabilities of the software.
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Omnitech provides a kit of modular components for converting any vehicle to remote control, teleoperated control, or semi autonomous control. The system has been applied to vehicles for military and commercial application ranging from land mine clearing to routine patrol for environmental monitoring. Sales reached $250,000 annually.
NASA Application
Applications in human exploration and development of space, providing both teleremote and autonomous navigation for vehicles using guidance and control sensing.
Social/Economic Benefit
Autonomous and teloperated vehicles can carry out hazardous tasks such has the movement of dangerous materials or detection of explosives, avoiding exposure to humans. Routine tasks such as perimeter security monitoring or environmental monitoring may soon become the responsibility of robots.
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Software development tool kit was used at the Kennedy Space Flight Center in developing a redesigned Shuttle checkout and launch control system. Real-Time Innovations has won additional federal research and development contracts for product and enjoys significant commercial sales for the product, Constellation.
NASA Application
The software development tool kit was used by NASA for the redesign of the Space Shuttle checkout and launch control system at the Kennedy Space Flight Center. The software tool kit is a potential candidate for several future NASA missions involving robotic vehicle control, rovers, and robots.
Social/Economic Benefit
The software provides significant cost and time savings for developers of software for autonomous, reactive systems.
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The coring technology and engineering model development has been an important aspect of Honeybee robotics continued participating in NASA's Mars exploration program. Honeybee provided the coring system for the field test rover FIDO. The coring technology was included in the unsuccessful Jet Propulsion Laboratory submission for a Mars sample return mission.
NASA Application
Honeybee Robotics received $1.1 million for their participation in Mars rover development work. The technology is under consideration for a 2009 Mars rover mission.
Social/Economic Benefit
The ability to extract samples from rocks and bedrock materials are key to scientist’s efforts to determine if Mars once supported some form of life. A corer would provide access to the inside of rocks that are protected from the harsh environmental conditions which characterize the most recent history of the planet.
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An ultrasonic rock driller and corer was developed by Cybersonics, Inc. under a SBIR contract that requires minimal axial loading and pressure. A test demonstration has been performed from a 4 kilogram platform where a 1 inch deep hole was drilled in granite. Cybersonics has a number of government sponsors to develop the technology for applications from drills for space exploration to quiet drills for concrete.
NASA Application
The technology is under development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for future NASA small bodies exploration and Mars mission. The drill is also being developed for Antarctic exploration.
Social/Economic Benefit
The technology has the potential to improve the performance of future NASA exploration and sample return missions. The technology allows drilling without the axial loading and pressure of conventional drilling.
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IA Tech, Inc. developed and implemented a software package that would allow scientists and engineers to collaborate over the internet in the planning and direction of planetary exploration missions. In addition, the software accommodates cooperative planning for multiple robotic platforms. The software has contributed directly Mars Lander and 2003 Mars Rover missions and the development of improvements for the planned 2009 Rover mission to Mars.
NASA Application
The internet based planning and simulation software was used for the Mars Polar Lander mission. The software was adapted to support the Scientific Activity Planner that was used for the 2003 Rover mission to Mars. IA Tech is developing software to support the 2009 Mars Rover mission.
Social/Economic Benefit
This software will allow scientists and engineers to participate in mission planning and operations without the necessity of traveling to a common location. In addition, the technology supports the cooperative planning for and operation of multiple robotic platforms. Expectations are that someday in the near future students and researchers around the country will be able to follow the exploration of Mars Rover and other missions of a similar nature over the internet.
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Wet chemistry laboratories are expected to be a part of future NASA planetary missions where an advanced version of the laboratory developed by Starsys Research, Inc. may find an application. Currently, the present version has been purchased by several NASA sponsored programs to develop the technology for future Mars and other planetary missions.
NASA Application
A Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program, a Mars Instrument Development Program, and a Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets Program have purchased the Starsys Research Wet Chemistry Laboratory.
Social/Economic Benefit
This technology is advancing NASA’s space science exploration capabilities. Wet chemistry laboratories can potentially answer many questions about a planet’s chemical and biological history.
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The 3-D color holographic system which provides high quality, real time 3-D visualization is under further for several applications. Physical Optics Corporation is working with the Army on a medical imaging system, a Japanese company on a game application and the Ford Motor Company on an automotive design tool.
NASA Application
Potential NASA applications include holographic displays for future missions and 3-D autocad displays for spacecraft design.
Social/Economic Benefit
Real time 3-D image displays have many potential applications in the field of design and demonstration. These displays can be observed without the aid of special glasses.
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Scientific Systems Company, Inc. developed software for the autonomous guidance, navigation and control of individual and multiple spacecraft. The work lead to a contract with JPL to develop software for a multiple spacecraft autonomous flight demonstration. In addition, the technology positioned the company to win a $2 million subcontract with Northrup Grumman on a DARPA contract for autonomous intelligence gathering system for the Navy.
NASA Application
Scientific Systems received $1.9 million under contract with JPL for technology flight demonstration on New Millennium ST-6 mission before cancellation (flight test on Air Force Laboratory microsat spacecraft). This capability will be required for future NASA missions involving autonomous spacecraft operations.
Social/Economic Benefit
Software for autonomous spacecraft operations is an enabling technology for several planned NASA missions involving autonomous spacecraft operations and high precision formation flying.
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American GNC Corporation has developed a high precision guidance and control system for future NASA mission applications. Commercial sales are approaching $1 million for robotic vehicles in security and industrial applications.
NASA Application
This high precision guidance and control technology may some day find application in a Mars sample return mission or other NASA satellite or planetary missions with similar mission requirements.
Social/Economic Benefit
Future NASA science missions will depend on this type of technology to operate efficiently. Robotic vehicles are assuming many high risk jobs in the area of security and dangerous material handling made possible by advanced guidance and control systems.
Payload Systems received $175,000 for zero gravity flight demonstration on NASA’s C-9 “vomit comet”. The Depatment of Defense is another potential customer for rendezvous and docking technology for the purpose of re-supply, maintenance, and upgrading of orbital assets.
NASA Application
Autonomous retrieval of a orbiting sample is one of the most technically complex challenges facing a Mars sample return mission. Future NASA Mars sample return mission application are likely.
Social/Economic Benefit
Payload Systems' technology has helped to remove one of the important barriers to a future NASA sample return mission from another planet or moon.
Geophex has developed small antenna sensor technology that can detect differences in the electromagnetic properties of subsurface features to depths of 30 feet. This capability has resulted in initial contracts with the Army and Navy with a combined value in excess of a million dollars for mine detectors.
NASA Application
This technology could Support the development of a planetary exploration instrument for the detection of water and ice at deeps up to 30 feet below the surface.
Social/Economic Benefit
Improved land mine detection capability could save many lives in the armed forces as will as prevent civilian causalities in military conflict zones.
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