.. Opening the middle hatch with the cogs

What about the cogwheels. They seem to be well oiled.

Yes, oil. Do you have oil with you? Or something that used to contain oil?

Yes, put one of the provisions into the cogwheels and observe the magic of self maintenance.

Well, it is active. Maybe you could try it when it is passive.

Yes, but the door is open (for that brief moment). Could you jam the door open somehow?

Put one of your socks on the hatch door (not the arm). Open the hatch door and steal the robot arm.