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The Space Vision System
Lloyd Pinkney's Space Vision System (SVS) represents a stellar
breakthrough in space technology. Related to other Canadian space
innovation such as the robotic arms Canadarm and
Canadarm2, SVS is an eye in space, and will facilitate construction
of the new International Space Station.
When building in space, not only is the lack of gravity
a factor,
but, in the black emptiness of space, there are also no points of reference
to judge the location and speed of objects being used in the construction.
Space Vision System provides those critical reference points, and calculates and displays
the location, orientation and speed at which the objects are moving in
relation to the Canadarm, the space shuttle and the space station, as well
as a view of what the Canadarm, attached to a space shuttle, is doing.
Imagine yourself floating in
space, looking at the outside of the
International Space Station. What you may first notice are numerous black
dots. These dots are reference points for the SVS, which, attached to the
Canadarm, extrapolate the distance to the circles or any other objects
being moved. This is accomplished by taking sequential photographs of the
objects every 33 milliseconds, with SVS further calculating the location
and speed of the objects before the next photograph is even taken. A
display screen located inside the space shuttle or the space station
presents an image of the object in terms of its location, orientation and
speed.
The Space Vision System, therefore, is enabling astronauts to use the
Canadarm2 to construct most of the station in orbit and from within the
space station itself. The Canadarm2, larger and more dexterous than its
predecessor, is capable of moving an object the size of the space shuttle
itself, and SVS makes it possible to maneuver these objects with extreme
accuracy. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield often speaks of how, during
trials, SVS gave him location information of the robotic arm and its
payload to within a millimetre. For example, a
massive airlock was
installed on the station using the arm and SVS without incident.
Astoundingly accurate, SVS is playing an essential role in the
construction of the International Space Station. It also is one of
Alberta's links to the study of spaceLloyd Pinkney was born in Blairmore
in 1931 and later attending the University of Alberta where he studied
engineering and physics. Following his studies, Pinkney joined the National
Research Council.
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