Apparatus for grasping objects in space
First Claim
1. An apparatus for grasping a target object in space, comprising:
- an orbital platform;
at least one free-flying grasper unit including a grasper unit body, a propulsion system with at least one propulsion nozzle mounted on said grasper unit body, and a grasper-arm mechanism arranged on said grasper unit body, wherein said grasper-arm mechanism is adapted to controlledly grasp the target object; and
a respective cable that respectively connects said free-flying grasper unit to said orbital platform;
wherein said cable includes a mechanical tension-transmitting cable element that extends between said orbital platform and said grasper unit, and insulated electrical conductor lines that extend between said orbital platform and said grasper unit and that are adapted to transmit electrical power and communication signals between said orbital platform and said grasper unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remotely controlled apparatus for grasping an object such as a satellite in space includes a free-flying grasper unit connected by a selectively extendable cable to an orbital platform. The orbital platform and the grasper unit are preferably each independently propelled by respective propulsion systems including multi-axis maneuvering nozzles respectively provided on the orbital platform and on the grasper unit. The grasper unit preferably includes a grasper unit body and a grasper-arm mechanism having a controllable grasping claw articulately mounted on the end of a controllable telescoping arm that extends from the grasper unit body. The grasper unit preferably further includes a camera and a distance measuring sensor to provide visual and distance feedback data for assisting the remotely controlled maneuvering of the grasper unit and actuation of the grasper-arm mechanism.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for grasping a target object in space, comprising:
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an orbital platform; at least one free-flying grasper unit including a grasper unit body, a propulsion system with at least one propulsion nozzle mounted on said grasper unit body, and a grasper-arm mechanism arranged on said grasper unit body, wherein said grasper-arm mechanism is adapted to controlledly grasp the target object; and a respective cable that respectively connects said free-flying grasper unit to said orbital platform; wherein said cable includes a mechanical tension-transmitting cable element that extends between said orbital platform and said grasper unit, and insulated electrical conductor lines that extend between said orbital platform and said grasper unit and that are adapted to transmit electrical power and communication signals between said orbital platform and said grasper unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18)
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16. An apparatus for grasping a target object in space, comprising:
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an orbital platform including a platform body, a controllably operable winch mounted in or on said platform body, and a first propulsion system including first propulsion nozzles mounted on said platform body; a free-flying grasper unit including a grasper unit body, a second propulsion system including second propulsion nozzles mounted on said grasper unit body, a camera, a distance measuring sensor, and a grasper-arm mechanism including an arm that is connected to and extends from said grasper unit body and a three-jawed grasping claw that is connected to a free distal end of said arm and is adapted to controlledly grasp the target object; and a cable that is connected to said grasper unit, and that is connected to and selectively wound-up on and unwound front said cable winch of said orbital platform, and that includes a mechanical tension-transmitting cable element and insulated electrical conductor lines that extend between said orbital platform and said grasper unit and are adapted to transmit electrical power and communication signals between said orbital platform and at least one of said grasper-arm mechanism, said second propulsion system, said camera and said distance measuring sensor of said grasper unit.
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17. A free-flying grasper unit for grasping a target object in space, comprising:
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a grasper unit body, a propulsion system including propulsion nozzles arranged in multi-axis clusters mounted on said grasper unit body, a stereo camera arrangement mounted on said grasper unit body, a laser distance measuring sensor mounted on said grasper unit body, a grasper-arm mechanism including a telescoping arm that is connected to and selectively variably extends from said grasper unit body and a three-jawed grasping claw that is connected to a free distal end of said arm and is adapted to controlledly grasp the target object, a cable mounting point including a mechanical connection point and an electrical connection point respectively adapted to have a mechanical cable and an electrical cable connected thereto, whereby said grasper unit is adapted to be mechanically and electrically connected to an orbital platform via the cables and to receive control signals from the orbital platform via the electrical cable and said electrical connection point to control at least one of said propulsion system or said grasper-arm mechanism, and a plurality of mounting elements that extend from said grasper unit body opposite said grasper-arm mechanism and that are adapted to position and releasably mount Bald grasper unit relative to the orbital platform.
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Specification