Tool-Swap Station
Tool-Swap Station for End-Effector Change
A tool-swap station is an autonomous rack mounted at a robot dock that enables manipulators to exchange specialized end-effectors without human intervention. Built from aluminum with a mass of 30 kg, the unit provides 16 tool slots integrated with RFID readers for inventory tracking while drawing 5 W of power. Operating in the lunar environment requires mechanisms to withstand abrasive regolith, hard vacuum, and 300 K temperature swings during robotic-only access cycles without manual maintenance. To function reliably across long-duration missions, the rack architecture is engineered for a 20-year design life and a mean time between failures of 100,000 hours.
Tool-swap station at robot dock enabling autonomous end-effector changes — coordinated with L3-MFG-TOOL-STOR.
Purpose
Tool-swap station at robot dock enabling autonomous end-effector changes — coordinated with L3-MFG-TOOL-STOR.
Context
Child of L2-ROB-DOCK within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Tool storage rack co-located with charging dock
- ▸Robotic arm positions for tool change
- ▸Per-tool slot with RFID identification
- ▸Coordinated with L3-ROB-TOOL-CHG mechanism
- ▸Long-mission tool inventory
Typical implementations
- ▸Industrial tool-change stations
- ▸Aerospace AIT facilities
- ▸Cobot tool stations
Lunar considerations
- ▸Robotic-only access
- ▸Long-life rack mechanism
- ▸L1-DVT inventory tracking
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Tool-swap station at robot dock enabling autonomous end-effector changes — coordinated with L3-MFG-TOOL-STOR. |
| tool slots | 16 |
Physical
| mass kg | 30 |
| materials | Aluminum tool rack, RFID readers |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 5 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 20 |
| mtbf hours | 100000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Tool change at dock
- Tool inventory access
Requires
- Tool inventory database
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Tool-Swap Station" (L3-ROB-DOCK-TOOL). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-ROB-DOCK-TOOL
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.