Modular Spacecraft Chassis with Androgynous Mount Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of spacecraft is a tedious, slow, and expensive process, requiring significant engineering coordination and customization of bespoke systems, making planning and budgeting difficult, and hindering efficiency and flexibility in design and retrofitting.
Innovation Solution
A system of versatile foundational module infrastructure using modular hardware and software elements, including deltahedral structural frames and function modules, with an androgynous mount interface and mechanical fastening apparatus, enabling rapid assembly and standardization of spacecraft components, facilitated by a distributed network device bus and an open-source market ecosystem.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If spacecraft are designed and built from the ground up for individual missions, then customization and mission-specific performance are improved, but production time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The spacecraft is divided into standardized modular components (chassis, payload modules, propulsion modules, etc.) that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. This segmentation allows parallel production of multiple modules simultaneously, dramatically increasing productivity while maintaining customization capability through different module combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
A universal standardized interface system is implemented across all modules, including mechanical mounting interfaces, electrical connectors, data communication protocols, and mechanical fastening apparatus. This universality enables any module to be integrated with any chassis or other modules, allowing rapid reconfiguration for different missions without redesigning the entire system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spacecraft systems are customized for each mission, then mission performance is improved, but engineering coordination complexity and project management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized interface system provides universal mechanical, electrical, and data communication connections across all modules. This reduces engineering coordination complexity by establishing consistent connection protocols that work across all mission types, eliminating the need for custom integration work for each new mission while still allowing performance optimization through module selection.
Solution Approach 2:
While maintaining standardized universal interfaces, each module can be customized with specific instruments, sensors, or subsystems tailored to particular mission requirements. This local quality customization occurs at the module level rather than system level, simplifying overall coordination while achieving mission-specific performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bespoke wiring systems are designed for each spacecraft, then specific mission requirements are met, but retrofitting and component addition become extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A universal electrical and data communication interface system is implemented with standardized connectors, pinouts, and protocols on all modules. This allows any module to be electrically integrated with any chassis or other modules using the same connection method, enabling easy retrofitting and component addition without complex custom wiring while still supporting mission-specific electrical configurations through module selection.
4Reliability
If spacecraft production follows traditional custom-building processes, then quality control is maintained, but production cost and time become unmanageable
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the spacecraft into standardized modules, each module can be manufactured using optimized production processes and undergo quality control testing independently before assembly. This modular approach enables parallel production and quality verification of multiple modules simultaneously, maintaining high quality standards while dramatically improving overall production efficiency and making costs more predictable.
Data Source
AI summary
A system of versatile foundational spacegoing module infrastructure which is a framework of modular hardware and software elements which can be used to rapidly design and produce spacecraft. Preferred embodiments may comprise or include spacecraft modular building elements uniquely suitable for facilitating rapid assembly of numerous custom spacecraft designs from standard modular parts. A craft produced using these elements consists of one of more deltahedral structural frame modules and one or more function modules which provide instrument or subsystem elements. The frame modules provide the spacecraft mechanical structure, power and network distribution. The function modules provide the instruments and subsystems. Combinations of these standard elements can produce an unlimited variety of spacecraft embodiments, as needed for each mission. Supporting technologies may include an androgynous mount interface and a mechanical fastening apparatus for rigid mounting.