Low friction rotating technique of spacing docking test bed

Abstract

Discusses a two-axis rotating technique using two 5-degrees of freedom (DOF) ground-based docking test beds developed to simulate the dynamics of spacecraft. The friction torque of each DOF should be as small as possible in order to simulate the dynamic characteristics of spacecraft under gravity. Since the mass of the two 5-DOF test beds are 2 tons and 8 tons, a new low fiction and bending resistant structure in pitching and rolling simulation has been designed. The main "bending resistant part" is optimized by an improved fuzzy finite element method. According to the target mass and inertia of the system and deformation, the finite element method with fuzzy constraints is used to optimize the structure of the test bed. The optimization result is remarkable and the mass is obviously reduced. The simulating equipment is designed to verify the relevant parameters according to the dynamic similar theory. Tests show that the maximal bearing friction torque of the passive space docking test bed is 1.97 N m which is small in relation to the 80 N m torque produced by spacecraft in space with the biggest error of 9.3 percent.