AEMS ATLAS

ABSTRACT

The AEMS Atlas is a six-axis governed robotic arm designed for low Earth orbit operations. It is a new arm class, not derived from any existing industrial or space manipulator. Its primary purpose is to deploy, position, and support a governed payload stack comprising four integrated elements: an EV sled (power carrier and structural spine); an AIM Pod (local processing and EM field-shaping); a GRFF sensing unit (non-contact proximity and surface material awareness); and an EM processing cell (microwave-powered gas-phase reactor). The arm uses a fixed base, a six-joint serial chain, and three structural links totalling 3.5 metres of reach with a 700 kg payload rating. Every joint uses fail-closed logic. The arm holds its current pose under local authority when ground uplink is lost. Approach sensing is field-based rather than camera-based. Graphwerx graphene coatings are integrated for thermal management, radiation protection, and surface hardening. This paper establishes the arm class definition, joint geometry, governance architecture, end effector specification, payload interface requirements, space environment requirements, coatings integration, verification and validation outline, and mass and power budgets.

LINKED RESEARCH

KEYWORDS

governed robotic arm; low Earth orbit manipulation; DIGSP three-tier control; GRFF field-based sensing; AIM Pod capture; fail-closed joints; Graphwerx coatings; EM processing cell; payload governance; NGLS phase logic; Canon governance architecture; Atlas arm class