ACROBAT – Air Cushion ROBotic plATform
ACROBAT is a floating platform based on three air-bearings, with an adjustable centre of mass and allows payloads up to 100kg. It can also be used in a 'manned' configuration to simulate work tasks without gravity assist.
Additional thrusters allow its manoeuvring within the flatfloor boundaries.
MANTIS – MANeuverable Testbed for In-orbit Simulation
The MANTIS platform is designed for a payload of up to 40 kg. Its advantage is the autonomy provided by two on-board high pressure tanks which supply the air-bearings and the thruster system.
ROOTLESS – RObotic Testbed for fLoating dynamicS Simulation
ROOTLESS is the platform for the smallest payload in the lab. The payload platform itself is only a round flat plate of which the position is tracked while floating over three air-bearings. The whole system below follows the displacement of the payload via an omnidirectional locomotion system.