Autonomous satellite docking system
AssigneeMichigan Aerospace Corporation
InventorsPete Tchoryk, Jane Pavlich, Greg Ritter, Anthony B. Hays
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention solves problems associated with prior-art soft-dock mechanisms by placing all active components of a soft-dock system on the chaser side of the mechanism, leaving the target side of the mechanism completely passive (i.e., requiring no power expenditure or self-actuated moving parts to operate). In particular, the active components are supported on the end of a flexible cable attached to the probe, or chaser, side of the device. These components act as a sort of spring-loaded “trap.” Once the end of the probe passes into a receptacle on the target side, the mechanism is triggered, engaging it in such a way that it can no longer be pulled out of the receptacle until it is reset.
Claims4
A system for docking a chase space vehicle to a target space vehicle having a receptacle, comprising:
- a control cable extending from the chase vehicle;
- and
- a harpoon mechanism coupled to the end of the control cable, the mechanism including:
- a) a deployed state wherein the mechanism is physically engaged within the receptacle, and
- b) a disengaged state achieved by a pull on the control cable, causing the mechanism to be released from the receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.