Testing Scheme Design for Grabbing Positioning and Release Mechanism in Space Microgravity Environment
In the context of a space-based gravitational wave detection mission, the grabbing positioning and release mechanism (GPRM) is tasked with ensuring that the test mass (TM) is securely fixed in the appropriate configuration at the time of the satellite launch and subsequently releasing the TM in orbi...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Yang Zhong Huisen Zhang Chao Xue |
| author_facet | Yang Zhong Huisen Zhang Chao Xue |
| author_sort | Yang Zhong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the context of a space-based gravitational wave detection mission, the grabbing positioning and release mechanism (GPRM) is tasked with ensuring that the test mass (TM) is securely fixed in the appropriate configuration at the time of the satellite launch and subsequently releasing the TM in orbit at extremely low speeds across three translational and three rotational degrees of freedom. Consequently, the assessment of the GPRM functionality in a microgravity environment is a crucial step in the advancement of gravitational wave detection technology. In this paper, we present a space testing scheme for measuring the full six degrees of freedom of the test mass following its release. This was achieved through the use of a sensing system that employed spectral confocal displacement sensors and was equipped with a vacuum system, which enabled the simulation of a vacuum environment similar to that experienced in orbit. The accuracy of the testing scheme was validated by a Monte Carlo simulation test, which demonstrated that it could achieve 5 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>m and 82 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>rad in translational and rotational displacement measurement, respectively, and the translational and rotational velocities were found to be 0.08 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>m/s and 1.4 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>rad/s, respectively, over a four-second test time. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-43da54e17404457b84fdcb7db5b812022025-08-20T03:12:15ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-05-012510301010.3390/s25103010Testing Scheme Design for Grabbing Positioning and Release Mechanism in Space Microgravity EnvironmentYang Zhong0Huisen Zhang1Chao Xue2School of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaIn the context of a space-based gravitational wave detection mission, the grabbing positioning and release mechanism (GPRM) is tasked with ensuring that the test mass (TM) is securely fixed in the appropriate configuration at the time of the satellite launch and subsequently releasing the TM in orbit at extremely low speeds across three translational and three rotational degrees of freedom. Consequently, the assessment of the GPRM functionality in a microgravity environment is a crucial step in the advancement of gravitational wave detection technology. In this paper, we present a space testing scheme for measuring the full six degrees of freedom of the test mass following its release. This was achieved through the use of a sensing system that employed spectral confocal displacement sensors and was equipped with a vacuum system, which enabled the simulation of a vacuum environment similar to that experienced in orbit. The accuracy of the testing scheme was validated by a Monte Carlo simulation test, which demonstrated that it could achieve 5 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>m and 82 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>rad in translational and rotational displacement measurement, respectively, and the translational and rotational velocities were found to be 0.08 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>m/s and 1.4 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>μ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>rad/s, respectively, over a four-second test time.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/10/3010grabbing positioning and release mechanismspace testing schemesix degrees of freedom measurementMonte Carlo simulation |
| spellingShingle | Yang Zhong Huisen Zhang Chao Xue Testing Scheme Design for Grabbing Positioning and Release Mechanism in Space Microgravity Environment Sensors grabbing positioning and release mechanism space testing scheme six degrees of freedom measurement Monte Carlo simulation |
| title | Testing Scheme Design for Grabbing Positioning and Release Mechanism in Space Microgravity Environment |
| title_full | Testing Scheme Design for Grabbing Positioning and Release Mechanism in Space Microgravity Environment |
| title_fullStr | Testing Scheme Design for Grabbing Positioning and Release Mechanism in Space Microgravity Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testing Scheme Design for Grabbing Positioning and Release Mechanism in Space Microgravity Environment |
| title_short | Testing Scheme Design for Grabbing Positioning and Release Mechanism in Space Microgravity Environment |
| title_sort | testing scheme design for grabbing positioning and release mechanism in space microgravity environment |
| topic | grabbing positioning and release mechanism space testing scheme six degrees of freedom measurement Monte Carlo simulation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/10/3010 |
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