Human operator functions implementation by a manipulator

Robots application areas are considered, including directions of space robotics expected applications. It is shown that an important direction is a robotic manipulator to work with the onboard control panel controls. Such robotic manipulators’ development is an urgent and practically important task. A robotic manipulator organizing the autonomous operation problem is investigated. Manipulation objects are objects (controls) located on some technical object control panel. The subsystems that ensure the target task fulfillment are a robotic arm with a control system and a vision system. The robot manipulator interaction with objects should provide: on/off toggle switch, the switch handle turn, pressing a button, etc. At the same time, to manipulate objects, their position and orientation an assessment is required, which is realized with a computer vision system help. The subsystems’ operation coordination is necessary for planning and implementing manipulator controls, taking into account the objects relative position. The article presents a manipulator interaction diagram with a control panel, a methodology for organizing a vision system and a manipulator coordinated functioning when manipulating controls, including the interest objects position an assessment relative to a robot manipulator, and an algorithm for planning controls based on neural network technology. It is shown that the obtained control accuracy meets the requirements for a robot manipulator when working with a control panel.