Let's Connect

For bigger spacecraft capable of executing bigger missions, some of the assembly may be done in space. Your challenge is to design a simple approach that enables components to be assembled in space.

Autonomous Self-Connecting Capsules

Summary

This project is about self-connecting capsules that can connect autonomously when requested by a central computer.

How We Addressed This Challenge

First, the main computer requests 2 capsules to connect. Then, the 2nd capsule's position beacons light up. After that, the first capsule triangulates the 2nd capsule's position using it's 360 degree cameras and the 2nd capsule's position beacons located around the capsule and object recognition using OpenCV or a similar program. Then, the reaction wheels align the capsules together. The 1st capsule pressurizes itself using liquid CO2 tubes similar to what's used in a common airsoft gun, then it releases it's grabbing unit, which gets launched by the pressure in the capsule. The gas evacuating the capsule will also launch the capsule backwards but RCS thrusters will stabilize the capsule. The grabber has powerful electromagnets which lock on to the 2nd capsule. If the unit fails to lock on to the 2nd capsule the winch will pull the unit back then it will repressurize and launch again. If it does manage to lock then the wich will pull the 2nd capsule back. Then the electromagnets located at the end of both capsules will align both capsules for the mechanical interlocks. Finally the mechanical interlocks will connect both capsules.

How We Developed This Project

We used Blender to model and animate the demo animation.

How We Used Space Agency Data in This Project

We used data on previous docking mechanisms.

Project Demo

https://youtu.be/Nq_gPp5cv3c

Data & Resources

We used data on previous docking mechanisms.

Tags
#docking mechanisms
Judging
This project was submitted for consideration during the Space Apps Judging process.