Spacecraft Rendezvous Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Current techniques for spacecraft rendezvous and docking are complex and costly, requiring both visiting and destination spacecraft to be equipped with sensors, processors, and actuators, which increases mass and complexity, especially for long-lived persistent platforms that require frequent servicing.

Innovation Solution

Distributing the suite of sensors, processors, and actuators between the visiting and destination spacecraft, where the destination spacecraft handles pose and pose rate determination, and the visiting spacecraft executes actuator commands to follow a desired approach trajectory, reducing the need for sensors and simplifying the visiting spacecraft's processor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If both visiting and destination spacecraft are equipped with sensors, processors, and actuators, then autonomous rendezvous and docking capability is achieved, but mass and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous rendezvous and docking capabilityVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the autonomous rendezvous and docking system into two distinct functional roles: the destination spacecraft carries sensors and processors for determination functions, while the visiting spacecraft carries actuators for execution functions. This segmentation allows each spacecraft to have a simplified configuration rather than both requiring complete autonomous capabilities, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining autonomous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a communication link as an intermediary between the destination and visiting spacecraft. The destination spacecraft determines the desired trajectory and transmits guidance commands through this communication intermediary to the visiting spacecraft, which executes the maneuvers. This intermediary approach allows the system to achieve autonomous rendezvous without requiring both spacecraft to have identical sensor and processor capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If both visiting and destination spacecraft are equipped with sensors, processors, and actuators, then autonomous rendezvous and docking capability is achieved, but mass increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous rendezvous and docking capabilityVSAvoidmass

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the autonomous rendezvous and docking system into two distinct functional roles: the destination spacecraft carries sensors and processors for determination functions, while the visiting spacecraft carries actuators for execution functions. This segmentation allows each spacecraft to have a simplified configuration rather than both requiring complete autonomous capabilities, thereby reducing overall system mass while maintaining autonomous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the destination spacecraft consolidates sensing and actuation functions, then cost and complexity are reduced, but the visiting spacecraft needs to receive and execute external commands

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecomplexityVSAvoidoperation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback loop where the destination spacecraft's sensors continuously monitor the relative state between the two spacecraft, the processor calculates the desired trajectory based on this feedback, and guidance commands are transmitted to the visiting spacecraft's actuators. This closed-loop feedback system maintains autonomous operation and operational simplicity despite the consolidated architecture, as the system automatically adjusts based on real-time measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10882644B1Spacecraft rendezvous and docking techniques

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 LANTERIS SPACE LLC

AI summary

Techniques for performing spacecraft rendezvous and/or docking include operating a first orbiting spacecraft, the first spacecraft including a sensor arrangement, a first processor and a first inter-satellite link (ISL) arrangement and performing one or both of a rendezvous operation and a docking operation with the first spacecraft and a second orbiting spacecraft, the second spacecraft including one or more actuators. The performing one or both of the rendezvous operation and the docking operation includes determining a pose and pose rate of the second spacecraft relative to the first spacecraft using observations made by the sensor arrangement and determining a desired approach trajectory for the second spacecraft.