What did you develop and why is it important?

HexMB is an innovative mechanism that aims to simplify component's assembly in space, making it completely autonomous and more importantly decoupled from a specific mission protocol.

As a consequence, it is thought to enable the assembly of a very wide range of components, from small blocks such as CubeSats to very large structures as can be space modules.

The only requirement is the presence of two sets of small standardized elements previously installed on each block on Earth.

Fig. 0 - Assembly of various modules through HexMB

What does it do?

If two components are brought close together in space either by a reaction control system (RCS) or a propulsion system, HexMB enables in first place to roughly align them, regardless their relative positions, by means of an electromagnetic force. In second place our mechanism allows to precisely fix the components by using an automatic mechanical closure. Furthermore, it can provide for electrical and data transfer.

In last place, in case it were necessary, a fast release can be performed by simply reversing the mechanical closure.

How does it work?

In order to provide a specific explanation of our solution we are going to describe, as an example, how HexMB assembles structure B to structure A when they find themselves roughly aligned:

1)Structure B extracts a flexible kevlar pipe with a probe on the extremity, equipped with an hexagonal electromagnet.

Fig. 1 - Kevlar pipe of structure B

2) The electromagnet is activated so that it can guide the probe's extremity near an hexagonal iron housing on structure A.

Fig. 2 - Structure A (left) and B (right)

3) The iron housing is equipped with oriented rails which induce the electromagnet to slide and perfectly align with the hexagonal housing.

4) Once the two surfaces come in contact a position switch activates an electric motor which applies a rotation until mechanical limit switch to a plate with six radial pins, adjacent to the electromagnet. 

Fig. 3 & 4 - Probe of structure B (left) and oriented rails of structure A (right)

5)At this point six other pins on structure A are extracted to provide a mechanical closure so that the electromagnet can be de-activated, avoiding any eventual interference with onboard instruments.

Fig. 5 - Pins (orange) are extracted

6) The two structures are now locked together, though it is still necessary to move them closer to one another. For this reason, the pipe is retracted inside structure B so that the probe can be firmly fixed into structure B's housing.

Fig. 6 - Structure A (left) and B (right)

If it were necessary, given an external input, HexMB can easily release structure B from structure A :

1) The six pins on structure A are retracted.

2) The electrical motor on structure B applies a counter rotation to the plate with six radial pin in order to decouple the probe from A's iron housing.

What do you hope to achieve?

HexMB aims to facilitate the construction of big structures in space, such as telescopes or space stations, in order to expand research boundaries.

Nevertheless, thinking about human life in space, the assembly of an orbiting city such as a cis lunar one could be another suitable application.

With this in mind, our future projects would be to deeply investigate different types of material's properties in order to optimize HexMB's weight and especially its overall dimensions, so that our solution could also be implemented on the smallest pieces.

In addition, we would be working towards a system for satellite refueling: due to HexMB's hollow pipe, it is possible to come up with a technology that would enable the pumping of fluids in a microgravity environment, in order to extend satellite life cycle.