Characterization of on-orbit robotic assembly

On-orbit assembly missions typically involve humans-in-the-loop and use large custom-built robotic arms designed to service existing modules. The concept of on-orbit robotic assembly of modularized CubeSat components supports use cases such as rapidly placing failed nodes within a constellation of satellites and monitoring damaged assets in Low Earth Orbit. Despite the recent proliferation of small satellites, there is a lack of planned demonstrations of spacecraft manufactured through the on-orbit assembly as well as the servicing of small satellites in space. Key gaps limiting in-space assembly of small satellites are (1) the lack of standardization of electromechanical CubeSat components for compatibility with commercial robotic assembly hardware, and (2) testing and modifying commercial robotic assembly hardware suitable for small satellite assembly for space operation. Working towards on-orbit robotic assembly, we report on progress addressing both gaps.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master

Department dc:contributor.department

Program in Media Arts and Sciences (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Uzo-Okoro, Ezinne(Ezinne Egondu)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Joseph Paradiso.

• Program in Media Arts and Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/130212

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/130212