Session

Weekend Poster Session 2

Location

Utah State University, Logan, UT

Abstract

This paper presents the design, production, and testing of a mechanism to passively deploy a bistable coiled tape spring in a controlled, reliable, and repeatable manner on a SmallSat. The design has the tape spring wrapped around a spool that can be connected and disconnected from a motor to allow passive deployment through its stored elastic energy along with motorized retraction. The design went through several iterations before a workable prototype made of 3D-printed ABS and resin was developed. The prototype utilized a threaded clutch mechanism to transfer rotational motion from a servo to linear motion that allows two gears to move toward and away from each other. These two gears are attached to the spool and motor respectively, and their separation allows the motor to be disconnected from the spool to avoid influencing the deployment. The final prototype was capable of autonomous deployment and retraction with proper supporting software. Repeated tape spring deployments allow for automated reliability testing of a tape spring deployer, and the clutch mechanism to facilitate this can also be used in other applications.

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Aug 7th, 10:15 AM

Ut ProSat-1: A Repeatable Passive Deployer Mechanism for Testing Carbon Fiber Tape Spring Booms

Utah State University, Logan, UT

This paper presents the design, production, and testing of a mechanism to passively deploy a bistable coiled tape spring in a controlled, reliable, and repeatable manner on a SmallSat. The design has the tape spring wrapped around a spool that can be connected and disconnected from a motor to allow passive deployment through its stored elastic energy along with motorized retraction. The design went through several iterations before a workable prototype made of 3D-printed ABS and resin was developed. The prototype utilized a threaded clutch mechanism to transfer rotational motion from a servo to linear motion that allows two gears to move toward and away from each other. These two gears are attached to the spool and motor respectively, and their separation allows the motor to be disconnected from the spool to avoid influencing the deployment. The final prototype was capable of autonomous deployment and retraction with proper supporting software. Repeated tape spring deployments allow for automated reliability testing of a tape spring deployer, and the clutch mechanism to facilitate this can also be used in other applications.