TNO Physics and Electronics Laboratory contributed to national and international space research with some important technological innovations, based on or connecting to the techniques of Virtual Environments. Simulation techniques enable us to listen, look around and sometimes even feel the elements in a synthetic world. It isn't magic, it's a synergy of various technologies, applied in the right way. In the space sector Virtual Environments can be of great importance to several applications, e.g. in training and instruction, designing and testing, mission preparation, earth observation and tele-operation. Reasons which make it essential to develop Virtual Environment technology.
Research is focused on supporting all personnel involved in training with highly automated tools.
A subject of growing importance for training astronauts and ground personnel is ITS, Intelligent Training System. Due to the combination of Artificial Intelligence techniques and Computer Based Training, ITS provides training that is tailored to the individual student and mimics a human instructor as much as possible. This manipulator arm is used to provide ESA with a robotic in-orbit space plane servicing capability. It is used for the exchange of supplies or equipment boxes, generally called Orbit Replaceable Units or ORUs between, e.g. a spaceplane resource module and a space station. Data obtained by the one loop are used to control the other loop.