Design and Analysis of a New Deployer for the in Orbit Release of Multiple Stacked CubeSats

Abstract

More and more CubeSats cooperate to implement complex space exploration missions. In order to store and deploy more CubeSats in a rocket-launch mission, this paper presents a new CubeSat deployer with large-capacity storage. Different from the traditional one with the compression springs, the deployer with electromagnetic actuators is proposed to achieve the transportation and release. A new electromagnetic actuator with high thrust density was applied to adjust the release speeds of the CubeSats with different masses, and a new electromagnetic convey platform with attractive force was designed to transfer the stacked CubeSats to the release window. The equivalent magnetic circuit method was used to the establish electromagnetic force models. The simplified dynamic models of the transportation and release were built. The magnetic field, electromagnetic force, and motion characteristics were analyzed. The prototype was developed to verify the performance of the proposed configuration of the deployer with electromagnetic actuators. The experimental results show that stacked CubeSats can be transported smoothly even under constant external interference. The launcher achieved high thrust density and effectively adjusted the separation speed of the CubeSats.

Satellite Swarm-Based Antenna Arrays for 6G Direct-to-Cell Connectivity

“…The deployer gives satellites the different initial conditions needed to assure collision-free trajectories while the propulsion capability of each satellite is responsible for the required small orbit corrections. A satellite deployer for CubeSats based on electromagnetic forces is presented in [68]. Despite the challenges, the free-flying swarm also provides opportunities.…”

Improved A* Algorithm for Path Planning Based on CubeSats In-Orbit Electromagnetic Transfer System

“…However, the constraints imposed by the separation mechanism's layout and operation hinder the possibility of threedimensional deployer combinations or the direct, large-scale storage and release of stacked CubeSats. References [14][15][16][17] introduce a new deployment approach for large-scale, stacked CubeSats for in-orbit transfer and release. This scheme enhances storage capacity by tightly stacking CubeSats in three dimensions and utilizes the CubeSats in-orbit electromagnetic transfer system to methodically push these stacked CubeSats from a three-dimensional arrangement onto a two-dimensional transfer platform.…”