Magnetic Space Debris Capture System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing space debris capturing techniques, such as those using robot arms and harpoons, are costly due to complex mechanisms and have low success rates, especially when harpoon ejection fails.
Innovation Solution
A capturing system employing a plate-like body attached to the target object with a magnetic force, utilizing a magnetic force generating portion on an aerospace vehicle to attract and capture the object, reducing costs and complexity by using permanent or electromagnets and a deployable/retractable rod-shaped member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a robot arm is used to capture debris, then the debris can be captured, but the mechanism becomes complicated and the mass and size of the device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical robot arm system with a magnetic field-based capturing system. The mother unit generates a magnetic field that directly attracts and captures the debris without requiring mechanical contact or complex articulation mechanisms, thereby eliminating the need for complicated mechanical structures while maintaining capture capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the mother unit and the debris. Instead of direct mechanical contact, the magnetic field serves as the medium to transmit the capturing force, allowing the debris to be attracted and held without mechanical complexity
2Reliability
If a harpoon ejecting mechanism is used to capture debris, then the debris can be captured, but the cost increases and the success rate decreases due to inability to retry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the harpoon ejecting mechanism with a magnetic field-based system. Instead of mechanically ejecting a harpoon that must successfully penetrate the debris, the system uses a magnetic field to attract and capture the debris, allowing for retry attempts by simply reactivating the magnetic field without mechanical complexity or cost
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field system allows the mother unit to independently generate and control the magnetic field for capture attempts without requiring complex ejection mechanisms or external assistance, enabling flexible retry capability at minimal cost
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system increases mission success rates at a lower cost by simplifying the mechanism and minimizing interference with other spacecraft components, while allowing for adjustable magnetic forces and temporary detachment.
Implementation Method 1
a plate-like body which is attached to the target object and attracted with a magnetic force; and an aerospace vehicle that has a magnetic force generating portion which generates the magnetic force attracting the plate-like body
Data Source
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AI summary
An object is to increase the success rate of missions at a low cost in a capturing system that captures a target object in the space. A capturing system 1 that captures a target object T in the space has: a plate-like body 10 that is attached to the target object T and attracted with magnetic force; and an aerospace vehicle 20 that has a magnetic force generating portion 23 which generates the magnetic force attracting the plate-like body 10. The aerospace vehicle 20 has a magnetic force generating portion 23 generating magnetic force and enables capturing of the target object T by attracting the plate-like body 10, which is attached to the target object T in the space and attracted with magnetic force, with magnetic force generated in the magnetic force generating portion 23. The plate-like body 10 is attached to the target object T in the space before the target object T is launched to the space and enables the aerospace vehicle 20 to capture the target object T by being attracted with magnetic force generated by the magnetic force generating portion 23 of the aerospace vehicle 20.