Watt Linkage–Based Legged Deployable Landing Mechanism for Reusable Launch Vehicle: Principle, Prototype Design, and Experimental Validation

The reusable launch vehicle (RLV) presents a new avenue for reducing cost of space transportation. The landing mechanism, which provides landing support and impact absorption, is a vital component of the RLV at final stage of recovery. This study proposes a novel legged deployable landing mechanism (LDLM) for RLV. The Watt-II six-bar mechanism is adopted to obtain the preferred configuration via the application of the linkage variation approach. To endow the proposed LDLM with advantages of large landing support region, lightweight, and reasonable linkage internal forces, a multi-objective optimization paradigm is developed. Furthermore, the optimal scale parameters for guiding the LDLM prototype design is obtained numerically using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) evolutionary algorithm. A fully-functional scaled RLV prototype is developed by integrating the gravity-governed deploying scheme to facilitate unfolding action to avoid full-range actuation, a dual-backup locking mechanism to enhance reliability of structure stiffening as fully deployed, and a shock absorber (SA) with multistage honeycomb to offer reliable shock absorbing performance. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed LDLM is capable of providing rapid and smooth deployment (duration less than 1.5 s) with mild posture disturbance to the cabin (yaw and pitch fluctuations less than 6°). In addition, it provides satisfactory impact attenuation (acceleration peak less than 10g (g is the gravitational acceleration)) in the 0.2 m freefall test, which makes the proposed LDLM a potential alternative for developing future RLV archetype.

Power Consumption Characteristics Research on Mobile System of Electrically Driven Large-Load-Ratio Six-Legged Robot

The electrically driven large-load-ratio six-legged robot with engineering capability can be widely used in outdoor and planetary exploration.However,due to the particularity of its parallel structure,the effective utilization rate of energy is not high,which has become an important obstacle to its practical application.To research the power consumption characteristics of robot mobile system is beneficial to speed up it toward practicability.Based on the configuration and walking modes of robot,the mathematical model of the power consumption of mobile system is set up.In view of the tripod gait is often selected for the six-legged robots,the simplified power consumption model of mobile system under the tripod gait is established by means of reducing the dimension of the robot’s statically indeterminate problem and constructing the equal force distribution.Then,the power consumption of robot mobile system is solved under different working conditions.The variable tendencies of the power consumption of robot mobile system are respectively obtained with changes in the rotational angles of hip joint and knee joint,body height,and span.The articulated rotational zones and the ranges of body height and span are determined under the lowest power consumption.According to the walking experiments of prototype,the variable tendencies of the average power consumption of robot mobile system are respectively acquired with changes in duty ratio,body height,and span.Then,the feasibility and correctness of theory analysis are verified in the power consumption of robot mobile system.The proposed analysis method in this paper can provide a reference on the lower power research of the large-load-ratio multi-legged robots.

Dynamic Finite Element Modeling and Simulation of Soft Robots

Soft robots have become important members of the robot community with many potential applications owing to their unique flexibility and security embedded at the material level.An increasing number of researchers are interested in their designing,manufacturing,modeling,and control.However,the dynamic simulation of soft robots is difficult owing to their infinite degrees of freedom and nonlinear characteristics that are associated with soft materials and flexible geometric structures.In this study,a novel multi-flexible body dynamic modeling and simulation technique is introduced for soft robots.Various actuators for soft robots are modeled in a virtual environment,including soft cable-driven,spring actuation,and pneumatic driving.A pneumatic driving simulation was demonstrated by the bending modules with different materials.A cable-driven soft robot arm prototype and a cylindrical soft module actuated by shape memory alley springs inspired by an octopus were manufactured and used to validate the simulation model,and the experimental results demonstrated adequate accuracy.The proposed technique can be widely applied for the modeling and dynamic simulation of other soft robots,including hybrid actuated robots and rigid-flexible coupling robots.This study also provides a fundamental framework for simulating soft mobile robots and soft manipulators in contact with the environment.

An Underwater Image Bubble Noise Removal Method Based on Optical Flow

It is very important for underwater robots to accurately detect and locate target objects. However,under many circumstances,it is difficult to clearly observe the target object due to the existence of bubble noise. In this paper,we proposed a method to solve this problem. First,we used the LK optical flow algorithm to calculate the motion vector of the image background and compensate for the background motion.Then,the optical flow field of the bubbles was calculated by the HS optical flow algorithm,and the area where the bubble existed was obtained by binarizing the image. Finally,we used the adjacent frame image to repair the bubble area. We carried out a bubble noise removal experiment. The results show that this method can effectively remove the bubble noise in the image.

Calibration of Discrete Element Heat Transfer Parameters by Central Composite Design

The efficiency and precision of parameter calibration in discrete element method （DEM） are not satisfactory, and parameter calibration for granular heat transfer is rarely involved. Accordingly, parameter calibration for granular heat transfer with the DEM is studied. The heat transfer in granular assemblies is simulated with DEM, and the effective thermal conductivity （ETC） of these granular assemblies is measured with the transient method in simulations. The measurement testbed is designed to test the ETC of the granular assemblies under normal pressure and a vacuum based on the steady method. Central composite design （CCD） is used to simulate the impact of the DEM parameters on the ETC of granular assemblies, and the heat transfer parameters are calibrated and compared with experimental data. The results show that, within the scope of the considered parameters, the ETC of the granular assemblies increases with an increasing particle thermal conductivity and decreases with an increasing particle shear modulus and particle diameter. The particle thermal conductivity has the greatest impact on the ETC of granular assemblies followed by the particle shear modulus and then the particle diameter. The calibration results show good agreement with the experimental results. The error is less than 4%, which is within a reasonable range for the scope of the CCD parameters. The proposed research provides high efficiency and high accuracy parameter calibration for granular heat transfer in DEM.

Design methodology,synthesis,and control strategy of the high-speed planetary rover

The planned missions to explore the surfaces of the Moon and Mars require high exploration efficiency,thus imposing new demands on the mobility system of planetary rovers.In this paper,a design method for a high-speed planetary rover(HPR)is proposed,and the representative configurations are modeled and simulated.First,the influence of the planetary surface environment on the design of HPRs is analyzed,and the design factors for HPRs are determined by studying a single-wheel suspension.Second,a design methodology for HPRs is proposed.The adaptive suspension mechanisms of a four-wheeled rover are synthesized using the all-wheel-attachment condition and position and orientation characteristics theory,which are expressed in the form of a graph theory for the increase in elastic components and active joints.Finally,a dynamic model is built,and a simulation is carried out for the proposed rover.The validity of the proposed method and rover is verified,thus highlighting their potential application in future planetary exploration.

Simulation and analysis of asteroid force closure anchoring performance based on discrete element method

Asteroid exploration is significant for studying the origin of the solar system,establishing planetary defenses,and alleviating the resource crisis of the Earth.Asteroid anchoring is the basis of in-situ exploration and resource development and utilization.Therefore,the performance of asteroid force-closure anchoring is investigated using the discrete element method.The micro parameters of the simulated materials are calibrated with angle of repose and uniaxial compression experiments,based on which the regional modeling method is adopted to establish the anchoring discrete element model.Asteroid anchoring experiments are conducted on a self-developed microgravity simulation platform to verify the accuracy of the simulation model.The asteroid anchoring simulations are performed to investigate the influence of external force on the anchoring performance.The analysis of anchoring force varying with time and the interaction between the anchor and regolith particles reveals the influence mechanism of external force direction on the anchoring performance.The external force direction affects the critical anchoring force by influencing the failure of the force-closure structure.The comprehensive analysis of simulation results clarifies the variation of the critical anchoring force with the external forces.Finally,a stable anchoring region is established,beneficial for asteroid anchoring device design.

Configuration synthesis of planar folded and common overconstrained spatial rectangular pyramid deployable truss units

Compared with non-overconstrained deployable units, overconstrained deployable units are widely used in space missions for their higher stiffness characteristics. Besides the performance of a three-step topological structural analysis and design of the rectangular pyramid deployable truss unit(PDTU), conducting a structural synthesis of an overconstrained deployable unit requires the determination of the relative position and direction of each kinematic axis. The structural synthesis of an overconstrained deployable unit is investigated based on screw theory and its topological structure. The possible overconstrained cases of the rectangular PDTUs are analyzed, and corresponding screw expressions are obtained. Thus, the rectangular PDTUs, which can be folded into a plane, are synthesized systemically, and a series of overconstrained rectangular PDTUs is obtained. Furthermore, the feasibility of the folded and deployed motions under one degree of freedom for those deployable units is verified in dynamical simulation by using ADAMS 2010.

Research progress of space non-pyrotechnic low-shock connection and separation technology(SNLT):A review

Space missions have become diversified in recent years, where connection and separation devices play a crucial role as key components of various spacecraft. Traditional pyrotechnic devices have the advantages of large carrying capacity, rapid motion and functional reliability. However,their shortcomings such as great release shock, poor safety, unrepeatability and other prominent defects make them unsuitable for new generation spacecraft such as microsatellites to separate at low shock or lock repeatedly, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to develop space non-pyrotechnic low-shock connection and separation devices(SNLD) which are required for advanced aerospace missions. In this paper, the progress of the research on space non-pyrotechnic low-shock connection and separation technology(SNLT) is summarized and reviewed. Proceed from the principle of reducing shock for non-pyrotechnic devices, present studies are classified from the perspective of actuating technology and systematic designing methods. For non-pyrotechnic actuating techniques,according to different driving sources, the separation devices are classified into several main categories: electric, magnetic, gas and thermal actuating devices. The actuation principle and application prospect of separation techniques are introduced and the working process, dimension and mechanical properties of typical devices are compared and evaluated. For the systematic designing method, the common mechanism types of SNLDs are summarized according to the designing concept of reducing shock. Then connection configurations are classified according to the structural forms of connection devices, of which the principles, bearing capacities and general applications are discussed. This paper systematically summarizes the key problems, puts forward the future development trend of SNLT, and points out the breakthrough direction for related scholars.

Sagittal SLIP-anchored task space control for a monopode robot traversing irregular terrain

As a well-explored template that captures the essential dynamical behaviors of legged locomotion on sagittal plane,the spring-loaded inverted pendulum(SLIP)model has been extensively employed in both biomechanical study and robotics research.Aiming at fully leveraging the merits of the SLIP model to generate the adaptive trajectories of the center of mass(CoM)with maneuverability,this study presents a novel two-layered sagittal SLIP-anchored(SSA)task space control for a monopode robot to deal with terrain irregularity.This work begins with an analytical investigation of sagittal SLIP dynamics by deriving an approximate solution with satisfactory apex prediction accuracy,and a two-layered SSA task space controller is subsequently developed for the monopode robot.The higher layer employs an analytical approximate representation of the sagittal SLIP model to form a deadbeat controller,which generates an adaptive reference trajectory for the CoM.The lower layer enforces the monopode robot to reproduce a generated CoM movement by using a task space controller to transfer the reference CoM commands into joint torques of the multi-degree of freedom monopode robot.Consequently,an adaptive hopping behavior is exhibited by the robot when traversing irregular terrain.Simulation results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method.