A service satellite having a body, a controller and a docking unit including a telescopic arm, mounted on a 6-DOF parallel manipulator, and two additional gripping arms. The telescopic arm, deployed from the 6-DOF manipulator, is equipped with a pair of rapid closure digits. The telescopic arm facilitates capturing the launch adaptor ring of a client spacecraft, even during tumbling. The 6-DOF parallel manipulator has force sensors and can accommodate post capturing relative motion through active compliance control and controlled de-tumbling, for avoiding generation of high forces in the telescopic arm. After relative rate annihilation, the telescopic arm retracts and the client ring is secured to the 6-DOF manipulator with the help of a pair of clamps. After the ring is secured, two additional gripping arms secure a rigid connection with the launcher ring so that the docking connection comprises three equally spaced connections.
SYSTEM FOR SATELLITE DOCKING FOR EXTENSION OF ITS USEFUL LIFE, OR FOR ORBIT MODIFICATION, INDLUCING SATELLITE DE-ORBITING AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL METHOD FOR SATELLITE DOCKING
2021-10-07
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS / B25J Manipulatoren , MANIPULATORS / G01L Messen von Kraft, mechanischer Spannung, Drehmoment, Arbeit, mechanischer Leistung, mechanischem Wirkungsgrad oder des Drucks von Fluiden , MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE / G01S RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING , Funkpeilung |
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