US 12,679,028 B2 · In space assembly

Abstract

A method of in-space assembly includes: providing a roll of spooled high strength composite (HSC) boom, a robotic arm, and a printhead disposed at about an end of the robotic arm, the roll of spooled high strength composite boom feedingly coupled to the printhead; positioning the robotic arm; dispensing from the roll of spooled high strength composite boom a length of high strength composite boom; positioning again the robotic arm; dispensing another length of high strength composite boom from the roll of spooled high strength composite boom or from another roll of spooled high strength composite boom; joining by the printhead; and repeating said step of positioning to said step of joining until a desired structure is assembled in part or in whole. A system for in-space assembly and printhead to print struts for in-space assembly are also described.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A system for in-space assembly comprising:

at least one robotic arm;
at least one HSC boom dispenser;
at least one printhead mechanically coupled at about an end of said at least one robotic arm, said at least one printhead feedingly coupled to said at least one HSC boom dispenser, said at least one printhead to join two or more dispensed lengths of said at least one HSC boom dispener, said at least one printhead fed by a feedstock of a spooled high strength composite boom of said at least one HSC boom dispenser;
and
wherein said at least one printhead joins two or more lengths of the at least one HSC boom dispenser as part of an in-space assembly of a structure.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

In space assembly

Life of this patent

In space assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12