Harpoon Capture and Conductive Tether Deceleration of Tumbling Debris
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing space debris removal methods face challenges in attaching deceleration devices to space debris undergoing irregular tumbling motions, particularly due to the complexity of controlling robot arms to avoid collisions and stabilize the deceleration process.
Innovation Solution
A space debris removing device equipped with a propulsion system, a capture device featuring a harpoon with a barb and elastic body to securely attach to the debris, and a deceleration system using a conductive tether with thrust generation, allowing for precise capture and deceleration of tumbling debris without collision, and stabilization through binding legs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a robot arm is used to attach the deceleration device to space debris, then the attachment can be performed, but the control complexity increases due to the irregular tumbling motion of the debris
Solution Approach 1:
The capture device is segmented into multiple independent capture members (harpoons, nets, or grippers) that can independently engage with the space debris. This segmentation allows the system to capture tumbling debris without requiring precise control of a single complex robot arm, as multiple simpler capture members work in parallel to secure the debris.
Solution Approach 2:
A tether mechanism serves as an intermediary between the capture device and the debris. The tether allows the capture device to engage the debris at a distance and gradually restrain its tumbling motion through controlled tension, rather than requiring direct mechanical contact and control of the debris's irregular movements.
2Reliability
If the harpoon is driven into the target debris to capture it, then the capture is secure, but broken pieces may scatter when the harpoon passes through
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic body is positioned around the pointed end part of the harpoon to provide beforehand cushioning. When the harpoon penetrates the debris and broken pieces are generated, the elastic body compresses and absorbs the impact, preventing the scattered broken pieces from dispersing harmful debris while maintaining capture reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The harpoon system uses composite materials, particularly the elastic body made of shock-absorbing material combined with the rigid pointed end part. This composite structure allows the harpoon to penetrate the debris effectively while the elastic component absorbs the energy of penetration and prevents harmful scattering of fragments.
3Productivity
If the space debris is captured and decelerated, then the debris can be removed from orbit, but the tumbling motion causes collision risks and operational instability
Solution Approach 1:
The capture device and tether mechanism are designed to dynamically adapt to the tumbling motion of the debris. The tether length and tension can be adjusted in real-time to accommodate the debris's irregular movements, allowing the system to maintain capture while gradually decelerating the tumbling motion through controlled dynamic restraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters during the capture and deceleration process. Initially, the tether is kept longer and less tense to allow the tumbling debris to move freely while being captured. As the debris stabilizes, the tether length is reduced and tension increased to gradually decelerate the motion, transitioning from a high-tolerance mode to a precise control mode.
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
Enables efficient capture and deceleration of space debris, preventing collisions and stabilizing the operation of the deceleration device, effectively removing debris from orbit and ensuring controlled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.
Implementation Method 1
The harpoon includes an elastic body disposed so as to cover the pointed end part on a front surface of the stopper part, and by compressing the elastic body between the target debris surface and the stopper part when the pointed end part is locked to the target debris, scattering of broken pieces generated when the harpoon passes through is suppressed.
Implementation Method 2
a tether device for space debris orbit conversion including a conductive tether which is attached to space debris such as a broken satellite or satellite wreckage or the like and obtains force of changing the orbit of the space debris by electromagnetic interaction with a geomagnetic field
Implementation Method 3
a thrust generation part for ejecting the harpoon
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided are a space debris removing device and a method which enable easy installation of a deceleration device to space debris undergoing a tumbling motion. The space debris removing device includes: a propulsion device (3) for performing approach and attitude control on target debris (1); a capture device (4) having a harpoon (41) which can be ejected toward the target debris (1); an observation device (5) for calculating a capture position (E) and a capture attitude at which the harpoon (41) can be driven into a tank (11) (hollow portion) of the target debris (1) by observing a motion of the target debris (1); a deceleration device (6) directly or indirectly connected to the harpoon (41), for decelerating the target debris (1); and a body part (21) on which the propulsion device (3), the capture device (4), the observation device (5), and the deceleration device (6) are mounted.