Knut R. Fossum

Exploration of plant growth and development using the European Modular Cultivation System facility on the International Space Station

Space experiments provide a unique opportunity to advance our knowledge of how plants respond to the space environment, and specifically to the absence of gravity. The European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) has been designed as a dedicated facility to improve and standardise plant growth in the International Space Station (ISS). The EMCS is equipped with two centrifuges to perform experiments in microgravity and with variable gravity levels up to 2.0 g. Seven experiments have been performed since the EMCS was operational on the ISS. The objectives of these experiments aimed to elucidate phototropic responses (experiments TROPI-1 and -2), root gravitropic sensing (GRAVI-1), circumnutation (MULTIGEN-1), cell wall dynamics and gravity resistance (Cell wall/Resist wall), proteomic identification of signalling players (GENARA-A) and mechanism of InsP3 signalling (Plant signalling). The role of light in cell proliferation and plant development in the absence of gravity is being analysed in an on-going experiment (Seedling growth). Based on the lessons learned from the acquired experience, three preselected ISS experiments have been merged and implemented as a single project (Plant development) to study early phases of seedling development. A Topical Team initiated by European Space Agency (ESA), involving experienced scientists on Arabidopsis space research experiments, aims at establishing a coordinated, long-term scientific strategy to understand the role of gravity in Arabidopsis growth and development using already existing or planned new hardware.

Approaching Human-Robot Interaction with Resilience

The ways robots provide valuable assistance to humans is foreseen to undergo rapid evolution in the years to come. Humans and robots working side by side represent one of the untapped potential for increased efficiency and quality in our society. To realize this potential we argue that today’s safety and reliability standards need to be rethought. This also holds true for future space exploration activities.

A project management issue of new technology developments: A case study on lack of human factors’ attention in human–robot interaction:

The complexity of today’s sociotechnical systems has prompted researchers and practitioners to advocate new holistic approaches to safety. However, many engineering standards, methods and processes for addressing technical, human and organizational factors do not fully reflect this. This article investigates known project management challenges and how they can explain the lack of attention to human factors issues in the design and development of new technology. As such, the work contributes to a research stream investigating why the human factors discipline is repeatedly marginalized in engineering projects. This article reports on findings from a case study – a research and innovation project developing technology and concepts for human–robot collaboration. We conclude that a narrow focus on early project phases and insufficient information coordination contribute to marginalizing the role of human factors in the design and development of new technology.