Dynamics Analysis of Space Netted Pocket System Capturing Non-Cooperative Target

Abstract

With the increasing amount of space debris, it is necessary to develop space debris active cleaning technology. The space netted pocket system is a flexible mechanism system which can be used to capture a non-cooperative target flexibly due to the advantages of having a stable structure, strong adaptability and a large capture range. In this paper, the dynamics of the space netted pocket system capturing a non-cooperative target are investigated. The dynamics model of the space netted pocket system is established based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF). The mathematic model of the closing rope is modeled using an ANCF flexible cable dynamics model. Then, the contact collision force model is presented to describe the collision characteristics during the space netted pocket system capturing the target. Finally, the dynamic characteristics of the space netted pocket system capturing the non-cooperative target are analyzed and discussed for different capturing strategies. The simulation results indicate that the target is captured successfully and the target contacts and collides with the rope net in the capturing process, which is subjected to contact and collision forces.