SPACECRAFT SYSTEM FOR DEBRIS DISPOSAL AND OTHER OPERATIONS AND METHODS PERTAINING TO THE SAME

A spacecraft system and method includes a platform with a dock and an umbilical payout device. A robot is connected to an umbilical paid out by the umbilical payout device and is repeatedly deployable from the dock. The robot includes one or more imagers, an inertial measurement unit, and a pluralit...

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Main Authors HRUBY VLADIMIR, BERLIN MATTHEW R, SZABO JAMES J, GRAY JESSE V, ROY THOMAS R, ANDREWS JAY, DELUCCIA CRAIG, WILLIAMS W. DAN
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 09.04.2015
Subjects
AIRCRAFT
AVIATION
COSMONAUTICS
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
TRANSPORTING
VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
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Summary:A spacecraft system and method includes a platform with a dock and an umbilical payout device. A robot is connected to an umbilical paid out by the umbilical payout device and is repeatedly deployable from the dock. The robot includes one or more imagers, an inertial measurement unit, and a plurality of thrusters. A command module receives image data from the one or more robot imagers and orientation data from the inertial measurement unit. An object recognition module is configured to recognize one or more objects from the received image data. The command module determines the robot's orientation with respect to an object and issues thruster control commands to control movement of the robot based on the robot's orientation. The combination of the space platform and robot on umbilical line can be used for towing another object to different orbital location, inspection including self-inspection of the robot carrying platform and for robotic servicing.
Bibliography:Application Number: US201414505678