Description: New tools are needed to increase the pace of physical and biological science research while functioning within constraints of the International Space Station and placing minimal demands on astronauts’ time. The Microgravity Lab Assistant (MLA): A Compact Robot for Sample Preparation Onboard the ISS is a compact robot with basic manipulation and machine vision capabilities. The goal of MLA development is to increase the pace of physical and biological science research by supporting sample preparation on the International Space Station and future in-space facilities. The robot is capable of autonomous operation in an unstructured environment using its onboard machine vision, or it can be operated remotely with intuitive control facilitated by its innovative arm geometry. Problem Statement Aboard the International Space Station, operating volume is severely constrained, and astronaut time is invaluable, limiting the rate at which experiments can be performed. Furthermore, many tasks that are performed frequently in biological and physical laboratory practice can be performed by manipulators smaller than human hands. The situation calls for a compact means of automating biological and physical science experiments. The MLA robot aims to fulfill this need through its capability to perform sample preparation tasks such as liquid handling, powder transfer, and operating lab equipment. Its compactness allows operation within restricted spaces like gloveboxes, where larger robots can’t function. Its size and relatively low cost make it possible for the robot to operate in a homogeneous team with copies of itself or in heterogeneous teams assisting larger robots. Its vacuum compatibility provides extensibility to extravehicular environments.

Benefits: - Research enabling: Automates sample preparation in microgravity Space and time saving: - Uses CubeSat heritage hardware to create a compact robot that can perform sample preparation tasks Future Customers - Biological and physical space science researchers - Government and commercial in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM)