Patent · US Active

Robotic gripper for autonomous rendezvous and capture of satellites

US10414053B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

6References

19Claims

0Family size

Assignee

USA as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventor

Matthew Ashmore · Woodbine, US

Key dates

Filing date	Mar 9, 2017
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Aug 3, 2037

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB64G2004/005
WIPO fieldTransport
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A robotic gripper for rigidly grasping a section of a Marman ring of a satellite, the robotic gripper having an outboard jaw which interfaces to an outer diameter side of the Marman ring, a inboard jaw which interfaces to an inner diameter side of the Marman ring, and a palm which interfaces to a separation surface of the Marman ring. The jaws, when grasping the section of the Marman ring, execute a two-stage motion comprising a first movement toward the opposing jaw in a direction parallel to the palm, and a second movement of drawing the Marman ring down against the palm or other suitable surface in order to fully rigidize the grasp.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.