Tether Space Mobility Device Attitude Control during Tether Extension and Winding

Abstract

Recently, advancements in space technology have opened up more opportunities for human beings to work in outer space. It is expected that upsizing of manned space facilities, such as the International Space Station, will further this trend. Therefore, a unique means of transportation is necessary to ensure that human beings can move about effectively in microgravity environments. In the present study, we propose a tether-based mobility system, which moves the user by winding a tether attached to a structure at the destination. However, there is a problem in that the attitude of the user becomes unstable during winding of the tether. Therefore, a Tether Space Mobility Device (TSMD) attitude control method for winding a tether is examined through numerical analysis. The proposed analytical model consists of one flexible body and three rigid bodies. The contact force between the tether and the inlet is considered. We verified the validity of the proposed model through experiments. Furthermore, we proposed a TSMD attitude control method during tether winding while focusing on changes in the system’s rotational kinetic energy. Using the proposed analytical model, the angular velocity of a rigid body system is confirmed to converge to 0 deg/s when control is applied.