Assembly Error Modeling and Tolerance Dynamic Allocation of Large-Scale Space Deployable Mechanism toward Service Performance

Abstract

As a satellite’s critical load-bearing structure, the large-scale space deployable mechanism (LSDM) is currently assembled using ground precision constraints, which ignores the difference between the ground and space environments. This has resulted in considerable service performance uncertainties in space. To improve satellite service performance, an assembly error model considering the space environment and a tolerance dynamic allocation method based on as-built data are proposed in this paper. Firstly, the factors influencing the service performance during ground assembly were analyzed. Secondly, an assembly error model was constructed, which considers the influence factors of the ground and space environment. Thirdly, on the basis of the assembly error model, the tolerance dynamic allocation method based on as-built data was proposed, which can effectively reduce the assembly difficulty and cost on the premise of ensuring service performance. Finally, the proposed method was validated in an assembly site, and the results show that the pointing accuracy, which is the core indicator of the satellite service performance, was improved from 0.068° to 0.045° and that the assembly cost was reduced by about 13.5%.