ENGINEERINGNET.EU -- The Belgian contractor Qinetiq Space is developing a docking mechanism, an IBDM or International Berthing and Docking Mechanism, for ESA.
An IBDM captures a vehicle or module drifting towards the ISS space station and absorbs all relative movement between the module and the ISS. Once this has happened, the IBDM ensures a structural airtight coupling between both.
The major technical challenge is dealing with the great forces and moments that come with coupling the modules.
Qinetiq Space wanted to thoroughly test which forces and moments occur when docking, according to different approach trajectories. With these trajectories, translation and rotation errors occur during the approach in between both components, which involves registering additional forces and moments.
The technological centre Sirris, also based in Belgium, tested the desired trajectories by means of a robot, that was able to produce the power and couplings that Qinetiq Space could achieve with simulations.
A power cell at the end of the robot arm allowed to monitor the exact impact of the weight. These forces and moments were then compared with those measured in the active parts of the IBDM.
Using a 3D optical measurement system, the movements could be precisely monitored and compared with the positions registered by the robot of the end effector. The results of the tests show a successful capture for various approach trajectories.
The successful collaboration has led to a new contract for Sirris. The goal now is to demonstrate the capture and damping phase of the docking process in combination with the dynamics of the docking module and the ISS.
BACKGROUNDER
Sirris, the collective centre of the Belgian technology industry, was founded in 1949 by Agoria, the Belgian Federation for the Technology Industry. More than 150 highly qualified engineers, scientists and technicians assist companies in implementing technological innovations .
