Motion estimation and capturing of tumbling object in non-gravitational field

摘要

For repairing broken-down satellites or removing space debris, capturing of tumbling objects in space can be said one of the important technologies in future space activities. This paper proposese a novel capturing method that the chaser adjusts its attitude motion to the target's one before grasping it. This method can solve the problem that the manipulator alone can not grasp a target with large or complicatied rotational motion. Several required techniques are discussed, such as motion estimation, attitude control, and modifying chaser's structure, etc. The feasibility is demonstrated by some computer simulations.