Abstract
Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology promises to improve performance of future spacecraft components while reducing mass, cost, and manufacturing time. Arrays of microcilia actuators offer a lightweight alternative to conventional docking systems for miniature satellites. Instead of mechanical guiding structures, such a system uses a surface tiled with MEMS cilia actuators to guide the satellite to its docking site.This paper summarizes work on an experimental system for precision docking of a `picosatellite' using MEMS cilia arrays. Microgravity is simulated with an aluminum puck on an airtable. A series of experiments is performed to characterize the cilia, with the goal of understanding the influence of normal force, picosatellite mass, docking velocity, cilia actuation frequency, interface material, and actuation strategy (`gait') on the performance of the MEMS docking system.We demonstrate a 4 cm2 cilia array capable of docking a41.2 g picosatellite with a 2 cm2 contact area withmicrometer precision. It is concluded that current MEMS ciliaarrays are effective in positioning and aligning miniature satellitesfor docking to a support satellite.
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