Abstract This paper presents the design and characterization of a miniature docking mechanism for nanosatellites. Potential applications are several, including servicing of orbital vehicles (e.g. refuelling, components replacement, deorbiting or reboosting) and assembly of large structures (e.g. telescopes, antennas). The mechanism responds to the constant demand of enabling technologies from the booming small satellites market. The developed system has a traditional probe–drogue configuration; it is equipped with a sensor to detect contact and a single servo-actuator to lock the connection. The simple, though effective, design fills a relevant gap in the field of nanosatellite technologies. Numerical simulations have been conducted to evaluate the dynamics of docking procedures and to estimate loads exchanged at contact. Experimental results validate the simulations and prove the high tolerance to angular and linear (lateral) misalignment.

中文翻译：

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立方体卫星的微型对接机制

摘要 本文介绍了一种用于纳米卫星的微型对接机制的设计和表征。潜在的应用有多种，包括轨道飞行器的维修（例如加油、部件更换、脱轨或重新升压）和大型结构的组装（例如望远镜、天线）。该机制响应了蓬勃发展的小型卫星市场对支持技术的持续需求。开发的系统具有传统的探针锥套配置；它配备了一个传感器来检测接触和一个单一的伺服执行器来锁定连接。这种简单但有效的设计填补了纳米卫星技术领域的相关空白。已经进行了数值模拟来评估对接过程的动力学并估计接触时交换的载荷。