Impact Force Identification of the Variable Pressure Flexible Impact End-Effector in Space Debris Active Detumbling

Abstract

The security of the space environment is under serious threat due to the increase in space debris in orbit. The active removal of space debris could ensure the sustainable use of the space environment; this removal relies on detumbling technology. According to the characteristics of the mechanical impact-type active detumbling method, this paper discusses a method to accurately identify the impact force using a pressure sensor. In this work, the impact force between a flexible impact end-effector and the space debris was analyzed theoretically and experimentally considering the pressure change during impact. Firstly, a nonlinear impact force model was established for the impact between a flexible end-effector and space debris. Secondly, impact experiments were performed and the friction model was modified. Finally, the effect of detumbling was verified through simulation experiments. The results showed that the identification error of normal impact force was less than 6.7% and the identification error of tangential friction force was less than 6.9%. Therefore, this identification method of impact force met the requirements of space debris detumbling, which has important guiding significance for the active removal technology of space debris.

Keywords

• detumbling
• mechanical impact
• flexible end-effector
• impact force