Dexter, part of the mobile servicing system onboard the ISS, was designed to work on routine upkeep work of the ISS meaning there is less need for spacewalks which carry a decent amount of risks. It is a part of Canada’s contribution to the ISS along with the Canadarm2 and Canadarm 1, both also part of the mobile servicing system. The mobile servicing system is attached to the mobile base system which runs along 108 meters of rail on one of the stations main trusses. This base has four grapple fixtures that can all be used by either Canadarm2 or Dextre, it also has two other systems in place to attach payloads to. To discuss Dextre a little more, it is a highly dexterous two armed robot which means the upkeep it can do includes assembling tasks as well as changing out the orbital replacement units. Orbital replacement units are parts of the main system or subsystem such as pumps, storage tanks, controller boxes, antennas, and battery units. Dextre has made waves here on earth too as the technology behind dextre is the bases of the Kidsarm. The Kidsarm is still being developed and is currently in a prototyping stage. However it is the first image guided robotic surgical arm in the world. It’s purpose is to assist in pediatric surgeries and it is guided by hand controls. It uses high precision, real time imagining technology along with multiple miniaturized tools to cut, coagulate, apply suction, or use a laser. The kidsarm is 10 times faster and it is more accurate than the hands of a surgeon. It has huge potential for performing intricate procedures in a less invasive and less painful way. It is promising for neurological, cardiatric, and urological procedures.
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