Attitude Error and Contact Influencing Characteristic Analysis for a Composite Docking Test Platform

Abstract

The design and analysis of a new type of three-jaw docking mechanism capable of space rendezvous and docking are presented. In addition, a composite docking test platform capable of both vertical and horizontal docking is created. On the basis of kinematics theory, a global coordinate system is built, and the attitude error is assessed based on the error angle. On the basis of dynamic theory, the multi-body dynamic differential equation of the composite docking platform is derived, and the impact-induced interaction state of the locking pawls is studied. The simulation software is then used to jointly simulate the test platform and the docking mechanism under the two conditions of frontal and oblique docking, and to analyze the attitude law caused by the change of docking impact force. This provides a solid foundation for future research into the application of space rendezvous theory to small spacecraft.

Keywords

• composite docking test platform
• motion simulator
• attitude error
• impacting characteristic