Human-Autonomous System Interaction Framework to Support Safety in Astronaut-Robot Team Interactions

The focus of this effort is on protocol development and utilization in autonomous robot teams to promote safety in interactions within the team and with an Astronaut or Astronauts. A module for protocol-awareness is integrated into a robot control framework. While a particular framework must be selected for specificity, this approach is generally applicable to robot control frameworks in which the robot may be considered an „agent‟. Safety –related protocols are defined. Simulation results of a notional Lunar Sampling Mission involving an active, autonomous robot team which utilizes the safety-related protocols and an Astronaut are presented. Preliminary results of the deployment onto robot hardware are given and future plans noted.