Miniature docking mechanism for CubeSats

Branz, Francesco; Olivieri, Lorenzo; Sansone, Francesca; Francesconi, Alessandro

doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.06.042

Cited by 30 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The Target is a 1U CubeSat mock-up (10x10x10cm) equipped with reaction wheels for attitude control. The mock-ups are equipped with probe-drogue miniaturized docking interfaces [10], composed of an active probe on the Chaser and a passive drogue on the Target.…”

Section: Figure 1 Chaser and Target Mock-ups [1]mentioning

confidence: 99%

ERMES: Design and preliminary simulations for an autonomous docking manoeuvre

Bortotto¹,

Agli²,

Favotto³

et al. 2022

4th Symposium on Space Educational Activities

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In the last decades, small satellites have played an important role in space missions. Due to their reduced dimension and costs, they became affordable to smaller companies and research laboratories to conduct scientific experiments and technological demonstrations in space. In addition, the number of these satellites has considerably increased due to their wide use in technological, scientific and commercial domains. In this scenario, autonomous architectures, as well as miniaturized mechanical subsystems for small satellites, are continuously investigated. Experimental Rendezvous in Microgravity Environment Study (ERMES) is a student project that focuses on the simulation of an autonomous docking manoeuvres between two CubeSats mock-ups equipped with miniaturized Guidance Navigation and Control systems and mechanical docking interfaces. ERMES aims to integrate different subsystems for autonomous docking, to increase the Technology Readiness Level and to study possible applications for in-orbit servicing. This paper deals with the design and development of the tests for autonomous docking manoeuvres between two CubeSats mock-ups to be performed in a reduced-gravity environment during a parabolic flight. A Target-Chaser configuration has been selected, where the Chaser is fully active and the Target is cooperative. The Chaser is equipped with a miniaturized cold gas propulsion system with eight thrusters to control its attitude and position; in contrast, the Target has a set of three reaction wheels to control only its attitude. The tested miniaturized mechanical docking interfaces employs a probe-drogue configuration. The most demanding aspect of the development phase will be the dedicated software for the proximity navigation. The reduced-gravity conditions will be achieved during a campaign of parabolic flights thanks to the participation to the European Space Agency “Fly Your Thesis!” programme 2022.

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Section: Figure 1 Chaser and Target Mock-ups [1]mentioning

confidence: 99%

ERMES: Design and preliminary simulations for an autonomous docking manoeuvre

Bortotto¹,

Agli²,

Favotto³

et al. 2022

4th Symposium on Space Educational Activities

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Then, the Assist project presented a type of probe-drogue docking mechanism [15] that used a pantograph to capture and pull back the target spacecraft in the mid-2010s. Recently, Francesconi et al presented two probe-drogue docking mechanisms: (1) Autonomous Rendezvous Control and Docking Experiment [24] proposed in 2013, which uses an electromagnet to achieve soft docking and release and uses three locking solenoids to lock the probe-drogue; and (2) a miniature docking mechanism for CubeSats [25] proposed in 2020, which uses photoelectric sensors to judge contact and a rotating tip to lock. As a classical docking configuration, the probe-drogue configuration has been used to this day due to its simple structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For docking, two s dock in a floating state and do not need robotic manipulators to fasten each o requirements of the spacecraft navigation system and the impact force of docki very high. Moreover, docking has a high failure risk due to floating collisions an ing off [25]. For berthing, the client spacecraft berths next to the service spacecr botic manipulators, and the two spacecraft are fastened.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and Analysis of a Novel Floating Docking Mechanism for On-Orbit Refueling

Sun

Zhang

et al. 2022

Aerospace

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The docking mechanism is a key component for on-orbit refueling technology. In this paper, the design and analysis of a novel floating docking mechanism for on-orbit berthing-based refueling is presented. Compared with traditional berthing and docking, the berthing here is high in success rate and low in impact, which is accomplished by stretching out a docking subassembly instead of pulling back the client spacecraft. However, the berthing also has two problems: initial deviations between two spacecraft and an additional force generated by a hard alloy refueling pipe, which both seriously affect the docking operation. Thus, the docking mechanism is designed to have alignment abilities and decrease the additional force as much as possible. Based on the principles above, we introduced spring pins and a helical refueling pipe to design a light, compact, and simple docking mechanism. To further reduce the additional force, we proposed an elliptical-helical pipe and analyzed its mechanical properties. Finally, simulations and experiments were conducted to validate the proposed mechanism. The results show that the proposed mechanism with an elliptical-helical pipe has a high tolerance for linear and angular misalignment and superior dynamic performance during docking.

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“…A vision-based navigation strategy based on advanced images processing algorithms are reported in [15], while [16] proposes a vision-based pose estimation combined with robust Higher-Order Sliding Mode (HOSM) controllers is explored. Branz et al [17] propose miniaturized docking mechanisms based on the probe-drogue configuration using a minimum number of actuations and moving parts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Docking Manoeuvre Control for CubeSats

et al. 2022

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Rendezvous and docking missions of small satellites are opening new scenarios to accomplish unprecedented in-obit operations. These missions impose to win the new technical challenges that enable the possibility to successfully perform complex and safety–critical manoeuvres. The disturbance forces and torques due to the hostile space environment, the uncertainties introduced by the onboard technologies and the safety constraints and reliability requirements lead to select advanced control systems. The paper proposes a control strategy based on Model Predictive Control for trajectory control and Sliding Mode Control for attitude control of the chaser in last meters before the docking. The control performances are verified in a dedicated simulation environment in which a non-linear six Degrees of Freedom and coupled dynamics, uncertainties on sensors and actuators responses are included. A set of 300 Monte Carlo Simulation with this Non-Linear system are carried out, demonstrating the capabilities of the proposed control system to achieve the final docking point with the required accuracy.

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Miniature docking mechanism for CubeSats

Cited by 30 publications

References 12 publications

ERMES: Design and preliminary simulations for an autonomous docking manoeuvre

ERMES: Design and preliminary simulations for an autonomous docking manoeuvre

Design and Analysis of a Novel Floating Docking Mechanism for On-Orbit Refueling

Docking Manoeuvre Control for CubeSats

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