News briefs

1992 Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology  
telephone: 301/975-3572. FUTUMSTIC CRANE NOW READY FOR APPLICATIONS Strong, agile, and a jack-of-all-trades when equipped with the right tools, a novel robot crane developed at NIST is ready to be put to work-on Earth or even another planet. Unlike standard cranes, the NIST device can lift more than five times its weight and precisely maneuver loads over a large working volume. Suspended by six cables from the center of its octahedral frame, the crane's triangular platform moves about sk axes.
more » ... t rigidly retains its position, even when tilted at angles. As a result, loads are remarkably stable. The crane features a "Stewart platform," named for the English engineer whose 1965 design of a mechanical platform has served as the basis for the aircraft simulator. Researchers envision many applications for the versatile technology-conventional construction, deep-sea drilling, cleanup of toxic and radioactive waste sites, and even extraterrestrial exploration and construction. Several mobile and stationary prototypes have been built to demonstrate the crane technology's capabilities to potential users. For more information, contact James Albus, B124 Metrology Building, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, 301/975-3418.
doi:10.6028/jres.097.022 fatcat:szmhiqth2bhptgo7ll2gl3tcmu