A Robotic Lighting System for Solar Illumination Simulation

This report details our development of a computer controlled spotlight with four actuated degrees-of-freedom for pan, tilt, linear movement, and beam focusing. We review the mechanical structure, kinematic model, calibration data, and control algorithm. The resultant systemenables the spotlightto maintainconstant intensity of the illumination of a surface, while changing the incident angle of the light. In this way, we e ectively simulate the changing illumination experienced in low earth orbit. The simulation system is currently used to test humanand computer inspection of orbital platform mockups for the Space Station Freedom.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1994
• Where: ICRA
• Authors: Richard Volpe, Douglas McAffee
• Keywords: ICRA 1994, Low Earth Orbit, Orbital Platform Mockups, Robotics, Spotlightto Maintainconstant Intensity